The Background of Perfume And Fragrances

Perfumes have been used since Egyptian times, and come in many different scents, formulas, and brands. The power of perfume and fragrances is often felt, as scent is a trigger of memories and feeling. This article discusses the basics of what makes up perfumes, and the different types of smells that are known in perfumery world.

There is science and art behind the chemistry of a well made fragrance. It is not designed to be smelled one time, especially not directly from a bottle spray. The best way to experience the full potential of the bouquet is to spray it on a piece of paper, and hold onto it for at least thirty minutes. Through this time, take notice of the notes to fully know all smells the brand provides.

What you are looking for after spraying a sample spritz are three distinct aroma notes. The first note is called a top note, because it is the initial scent you notice right after the first spray. This should eventually lead to the heart note, which is the main smell of the fragrance. This first scent should last the longest. As the scent fades you smell the final note, which is less potent than the heart note.

The different types of fragrance are divided into something called the fragrance wheel. The fragrance wheel is split into four varieties of scent, floral, oriental, woody, and fresh. These four scents are distinguished from each other for moods they set, and appropriate times of day to wear each particular type.

The florals are known as romantic, girly, and luxurious scents. They do best for everyday, daytime wear. Orientals are richer in smell, and often associated with mature, professional women. They are usually worn during evening events. Fresh smells are suitable for every day, and not as distinctive as florals or orientals. They are often worn by young people who aren't looking for an overwhelming smell. Woody scents are traditionally associated with men cologne, as they have a musky, masculine smell.

The people who design and create perfumes are called perfumers, and they are involved in a very complex and precise process. The different scents combine to create the notes of a fragrance, and of these scents perfumers choose and pick the primary scents, modifiers, blenders and fixatives .

The source of fragrance smell is often very potent and highly concentrated, and may be abrasive to the skin. In order to have perfumes that have different strengths, there are general rules for formulations available. If you look at a bottle of perfume, you will often notice it says one of these things: eau de cologne, which is two to five percent potent scent, eau de toilette, which is made up at five to twenty percent, eau de parfum, ten to thirty percent potent, or perfume extract, which the strongest scent at twenty to forty percent.

Having a signature scent isn't to hard, especially since, due to body chemistry, perfume and fragrances smell different on everyone. It may take a little time to find a brand and type you like best, but now you know a little bit on the background of perfume making and what goes into creating a bottle of fragrance.