Beauty Article

Why do people use perfume? Men and women alike have their own purposes for using fragrances. Some just like to smell good
and smelling good enhances their own well-being. Some use perfume to make a grand statement as they enter a room and to leave an impression as they go out. Some enhance their own natural scent with perfume so they would be seductive and appealing to the opposite sex. There are many reasons as to why people use fragrances.

Unique Signature Scents

When you buy perfumes
however
you have to be careful. It is very unwise to just pick up a bottle and head off to the counter to buy that fragrance. You have to test it on your skin first. Not only is it possible that you could be allergic to some perfumes
but a fragrance that smells nice on one person will not smell the same on you.

There is something that biochemists and manufacturers of perfumes alike call the signature scent. This signature scent refers to the particular chemical makeup of the body
which dictates how our skin will take to any fragrance that we apply onto it. We all have unique signature scents because it is determined by our particular lifestyle habits and choices
diet
the medication that we take if we are taking any
our skin type and coloring
and many other factors. Thus
because of signature scent
a specific fragrance will smell differently on different people.

The Three Elements of Fragrance

The scent of a perfume is determined by three elements: the theme of the fragrance
its notes and its concentration. Knowing about these three elements can help you decide on which would be the best perfume that would suit you and your personality.

Theme is what creates variation among fragrances. It is also called accord and is dependent on the base upon which the perfume is formulated
and there are four common bases used in formulating perfumes. These four are:

* Citrus โ€“ created from fruits rich in citric acid
like oranges
bergamots and lemons
always light and fresh-smelling.
* Earth โ€“ lends an air of mystery upon the wearer
formulated from minerals or from non-flowering plants such as cinnamon
vanilla
honey and sandalwood.
* Musk โ€“ always considered sexy and alluring
and though previously made from the sacs of animals such as the civet and the Asian musk deer
they are now created synthetically.
* Floral โ€“ the most common theme among perfumes; as the name suggests
they are made from the essence of flowers and are often strong
clinging and sweet.

The notes of a perfume
on the other hand
are what are known as the impressions of the fragrance. It is the lingering air left by the perfume as it evaporates from the skin. All scents have three notes
called the top
the heart and the base.

* Top note โ€“ the instant impression created by the fragrance. It is supposed to attract people to the scent
but it quickly dissipates.
* Heart note โ€“ called the body of the perfume
the perfumeโ€™s essence. It tells the smeller what the fragrance is supposed to be about.
* Base note โ€“ the scent that lingers after the top note and the heart note evaporates. It is the main message of the perfume.

The last element to be considered is the concentration of the perfume. Concentration indicates how pure the perfume is
or the amount of perfume oil added into the fragrance. The purest perfume is known to be extremely volatile and can cause irritations when applied right onto the skin. To prevent this and to allow users to enjoy fully the fragrance
perfume oils are mixed into ethanol
with water sometimes added in.

Perfume extracts are the most concentrated among fragrances. They are meant to be used sparingly and only on the bodyโ€™s pulse points. Coming after perfume extracts in terms of concentration is the eau de parfum
and after that
the eau de toilette. These two are often sprayed all over the body. The least concentrated of fragrances is the eau de cologne.

Tips on How to Buy Perfume

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when buying a scent for yourself.

1
Never buy a scent just because you liked how it smelled on someone else. Remember that our signature scent is uniquely our own
so what may smell good on others may not be as good on our skin.

2
Never be in a rush when buying perfume. The best way to test a fragrance is to spray some on your wrist and let it linger for 30 minutes. It usually takes a scent to display all its three notes within 30 minutes. If you like what you smell on yourself after that time
go ahead and buy the fragrance.

3
Always get a scent that expresses your personality. You should always think of the fragrances you wear as extensions of yourself.

4
Always remember that the chemical makeup of a perfume is delicate. Therefore
never store your fragrances in extremely cold or extremely hot places
or where they can be caught by direct sunlight.

5
Never hoard your perfumes or else they will just evaporate.