Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Fragnance and how is it created
Grasse - The Perfume Capital Of The World
Located eleven miles north of Cannes, Grasse in France is undoubtedly "The perfume capital of the world". Grasse has more than thirty perfumeries, several factories manufacturing perfumes and even museums totally devoted to perfumes. The most famous of the perfumeries are Fragonard, Galimard and Molinard.
Perfumes are created by the famous "noses", skilled in the art of blending different essences. The noses have developed the ability to remember all existing odours. They compose a fragrance like music is composed, just by imagining how the odours would blend.
There are about 2,000 different raw materials to choose among when creating a new fragrance. About one third of these are natural, while the rest is synthetic. Natural raw materials are sometimes unstable and/or difficult to get on a regular basis. Also science has managed to imitate natural ingredients to make prices more reasonable. A perfume of good quality holds between 20-150 ingredients.
A fragrance is built up as a triangle consisting of three levels.
1. top – the part of the fragrance that is instantly perceptible, it provides the first and most powerful impression of the fragrance, stays on for about 10 minutes
2. heart – the core of the fragrance that mixes with the skin and makes up its individual character and fully develops after about 60 minutes
3. dry down – this provides depth and resonance as it is constructed blending rich and and sensual notes that linger onto the skin and make the fragrance endure
Fragrance Concentration
All fragrances hold a certain concentration. The higher concentration a fragrance holds, the stronger it will scent, the more costly it is, and the longer it will last on your skin.
"Parfum" holds the highest concentration, about 20 % fragrance oils. "Eau de parfum" holds 10 to 15%, "eau de toilette" about 5 to 12% percent, and finally "eau de cologne" which only holds about 2 to 3% fragrance oils
How To Choose A Fragrance
Never try more than three scents at one time when you are shopping for a new fragrance. Your nose will not tell the difference after three trials.
- Apply fragrance directly to the skin as you cannot get a true reaction to the fragrance from the bottle.
- Apply a few drops to your wrist. Allow your body heat to develop the fragrance on your skin and then sniff.
- Make your final judgments on a new fragrance at least ten minutes after you have applied it. By that time the alcohol will have evaporated and the fragrance would have blended with your skin's own chemistry to give you a true impression of the fragrance.
- Don't choose a fragrance because you like it on someone else! It is how a perfume combines with your individual body chemistry as well as your personality which makes it so special, unique and flattering for you.
Creating A Fragrance Wardrobe
In your normal wardrobe you choose clothes depending on the weather and what you are going to do. In a similar way you can create you own wardrobe with fragrances to match your mood and who you are.
Surely there is a difference between who you are when being on your way to work on a Monday morning in February compared with going afternoon shopping in May or heading for a barbeque an evening in July, right?
Useful Advice
- Wear fragrance on your pulse points. Where blood flows close to the skin, the warmth helps your fragrance to diffuse and brings out its character. Wear it on your neck, wrists, over your heart and behind your knees!
Because fragrance rises, spray or smooth fragrance onto skin from the feet to the shoulders. If fragrance is applied only behind the ears, it will eventually rise and disappear.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
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