Perfume guide for beginners; all you need to know

Perfume is not just about that nice smell. It is a form of self-expression; and also a long-lasting impression. The right scent can lift your mood, as well as confidence. 

However, finding the right scent can be a little tricky and confusing. So let me help you out a little and tell you what exactly is a perfume and how to choose ‘the one’.

What is perfume? 

The word perfume, also called fragrance, refers to a mixture of scents extracted from flowers, spices, herbs and animals. The word originated from the Latin word per fumus, which means through the smoke. Perfume has been around for more than 1000 years; through civilizations, cultures and religions. They are nice, attractive, provocative, and if used incorrectly, annoying.

So let me get to the point so that you do not end up being annoying. 

Perfume: Basics. 

Based on the concentration of fragrance, perfumes are classified into different classes. Each class differs in its strength of smell and how long it lasts. There are mainly 5 concentrations. 

• Splash Cologne/Aftershave: Known as Eau Fraiche, it has the lowest concentration. It contains 1 to 3% aromatic compounds which don’t last long.
• Eau de Cologne: another light mix that contains 3-5% aromatic compound in an alcohol/water base. It lasts between 1-2 hours.
• Eau de Toilette: The most popular form of perfume which contains 4-8% aromatic compound in an alcohol base. Lasts between 4-6 hours.
• Eau de Parfum: The fourth level contains 15-18% aromatic compound in an alcohol base. Lasts between 8–12 hours.

Perfume: Also referred to as Extrait de parfum or pure perfume,  contains 15-40% of pure perfume oil in an alcohol base. Lasts up to 24 hours. It is the most expensive one.

Fragrance Notes. 

Just like how a song is composed of musical notes, perfume is composed of fragrance notes. Fragrance notes are the different odour elements within the perfume. The instant smell you get when you wear perfume is the top note, whereas the middle and base notes emerge after a while. It is important to have an understanding of fragrance notes not only to find your signature scent but also to master the art of self-expression through perfume. 

• Top: Or ‘head notes’ are the first scent when a perfume is sprayed. It evaporates fast. 
• Heart/Middle: Appear 2-60 minutes after application, after the top note fades. Lavender and rose are popular middle notes.
• Base: After the middle notes fade, the base or low notes rise. These nodes are rich, intense and heavy. They are there all along but are masked by the other notes, and  help make the perfume last.

These three classes of fragrance nodes must work together for the perfume to be balanced and truly memorable.

Fragrance types. 

Four key olfactory families feature one distinctive scent in each: floral notes, oriental notes, woody notes, and fresh notes. Within these, some subfamilies blend that distinctive scent with neighbouring families. A single fragrance is made up of a mix of scents from a family. 

• Floral/Sweet:

Essence: Fresh, delicate, sweet, and calming with a hint of oriental.

This can be the note of a single flower or a combination of essences rich with amber, woods, etc.

• Oriental/Spicy/Amber:

Essence: Sandalwood, amber, vanilla, tonka bean, musk.

If you are looking for a rich and seductive fragrance. you’ll love the rich perfumes and exotic notes of Orientals.

• Woody/Chypre: 

Essence: Earthy, woody, with bergamot, patchouli.

These sensual, memorable scents can be soft and creamy or cool and earthy. 

• Citrus/Fruity/Fresh:

Essence: Energetic and light, often with notes of limes and lemons.

This family is known for its refreshing, clean, and bright scents. 

Fragrance wheel. 

You can make use of a fragrance wheel for better understanding. It is simply a circular diagram that depicts the inferred relationships among olfactory families (or groups) based upon the similarities and differences between the scents.

Image by fragranceX