10 common beliefs about perfume that are nothing more than myths

Perfume is part of style and image, it is a means of seduction and expression. At the same time, the world of perfumery is surrounded by an endless amount of myths. High quality fragrances must be long lasting, cologne is for men only, testers and sales bottles contain perfumes of different quality, fragrance reissues are not as good as classic versions… These claims are either wrong or true true?

O awesome.clubbased on the opinions of various experts, studied and refuted the most popular myths about perfume.

As for the scent, the price isn’t crucial, but it depends on how much you like it and what works on your skin. It may be that perfumes that are in fashion and are sold at a price of gold are not so suitable, while the most economical one can blend beautifully into your skin, filling your soul with happiness.

Price does not guarantee excellent quality either. The final value of the perfume is influenced by the type of packaging and bottle, as well as the investment in advertising the product and a large number of other factors. The high cost of niche perfumery can be explained by the fact that a small company cannot buy large volumes of raw materials or a large number of bottles. The smaller the production, the higher the price of each unit of perfume.

Durability has nothing to do with quality. Each perfume composition consists of components that evaporate at a different speed. Therefore, if the perfumer created a magical fragrance, but used mostly volatile substances, one should not expect it to be very durable. Although this does not mean that the fragrance is of low quality.

To make the aroma last longer, substances such as musk, amber, wood and various resins are used. However, these components make the composition completely different, as it loses its lightness. Therefore, if you are looking for a long-lasting perfume, you should opt for oriental, woody and musky fragrances. While floral scents, as well as citrus and water fruits, will not accomplish this as they will not stay on your skin for long.

Perfumes can last for several decades with all their properties almost intact, despite the shelf life indicated on the box. It is proved by a huge number of vintage perfumes, which are objects of desire of fans and collectors. For example, the production of the perfume pictured above has been suspended for a long time, but collectors do not hesitate to replace their collections with these fragrances, looking for them at online auctions.

Modern bottles are filled under pressure, and the liquid inside is completely protected from contact with air, which helps to extend the shelf life of the perfume. Naturally, you should not use perfumes that have changed their smell or become cloudy.

To keep the precious contents of the bottle, it is very important to follow a series of rules. Perfume is spoiled by sunlight and high humidity, as well as high and low temperatures. Therefore, you should not store your favorite fragrance in the bathroom or in the refrigerator. The perfect place is inside the box itself, hidden in a dark corner of the closet.

The quality of perfume from testers and bottles for sale is no different. Fragrance can be perceived in different ways, because in the store we often throw a little perfume on the paper strip. However, we must understand that perfume applied to the skin will have a different scent.

There are components that remain unnoticed on paper and do not fully open. For example, many varieties of synthetic musk, ambergris, labdanum, civet secretions and others. Therefore, before buying, it is better to put a little perfume on your wrist or elbow, checking its fragrance for a day. And only then decide whether you want to keep him or not.

This is a common mistake. It is simply a matter of different concentrations of the aromatic substance, i.e. “cologne”, “eau de toilette”, “eau de parfum” or “parfum” have nothing to do with the gender of its owner.

Cologne water (Eau de Cologne) has the lowest concentration of aromatic substances: from 2 to 5% (at 70 to 80% alcohol). For example, Megan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is known to be an admirer of colonies. She favors the light and natural ones from British perfume brand Jo Malone London, especially Wild Bluebell and Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Toilet water (Eau de Toilette) contains 5 to 15% of aromatic substances. Perfume water (Eau de Parfum) contains 10 to 20% aromatic substances. Perfume (Parfum) contains from 15 to 40% active substances and is the most durable and expensive type of perfumery. Its use is recommended on special occasions and in small quantities. There are also perfumes for men. It is possible to highlight, for example, Issey Miyake Nuit d’Issey Parfum and Christian Dior Homme Parfum, whose advertising campaign was carried out by the British actor Jude Law.

Virtually any modern perfume is a mixture of natural and artificially synthesized ingredients. The second ones are no worse than the first ones: they are different “tools” in the perfumer’s hands. In addition, the essential oil content in some plants is so insignificant that it is impossible to extract it. For example, lily of the valley: the aroma of this plant for perfume compositions is created exclusively by artificial means.

As for ambergris, used as an odor fixer, it is currently banned in the European Union, Australia and the United States. Nowadays, this waxy substance found in the digestive tract of sperm whales is only used for the preparation of exclusive perfumes or used by artisans in the East. Its extraction is prohibited, it is only obtained from pieces thrown into the sea or collected in the water, since, in the past, the sperm whale was the object of intense hunting.

Even perfumes from private perfumers or produced by niche brands, which position their products as natural, cannot be called 100% natural, as they contain a certain percentage of synthetic components used to maintain stability or make the composition more harmonious.

Perfumery in tax-free areas is no different from that sold in regular retail stores. The raw materials for perfume production come from the same source, and besides, any commercial network has a reputation to uphold.

However, buying perfume in a little-known store or online can be disappointing. When buying, it is imperative to look at the price: perfume from a recognized manufacturer cannot be very cheap.

This is just one of the ways to apply perfume. It’s good, but there are others. For example, apply the perfume to the pulse points, especially behind the knees, behind the ears, on the wrists, in the crook of the elbows. In these places, blood vessels are close to the skin, and their temperature is slightly higher, which contributes to the opening of the aroma.

There is also a belief that you cannot rub perfume between your wrists, as it makes the high notes disappear. This is another myth. Rub as you like, nothing will happen to the smell. Just by warming the skin, the top notes will evaporate a little faster.

Perfume can and should be applied where it opens best. If it shows up best in your hair, scarf, scarf or clothing, it’s preferable to leave it there rather than your wrists or neck. However, do not apply it to white clothes: even clear liquids can leave stains.

This statement is nothing more than a rather boring relic of the past. Today, it is more important to create a “perfume collection” for different situations and seasons: for work and leisure, for romantic dates and night outs, scents with warm notes for winter and fresh fragrances for summer.

There is some truth in this statement: the new versions of the perfume are not identical to the original classic fragrance. This fact is related not only to fashion in perfumery compositions. The main reason is that every year restrictions and even bans apply to the use of various perfume components, which forces perfumers to look for their substitutes. For example, there are restrictions on the use of oak moss and natural oils. In addition, the use of essential oils of verbena and inula, ambergris and musk is prohibited.

The IFRA (International Fragrance Association, in Portuguese) is in charge of the restrictions and one of the most important reasons for banning the components is the care of people with asthma and allergies, as well as the protection of endangered wild animals and plants. of extinction.

Therefore, we must accept the fact that our favorite perfume in its new version can slightly change its smell. For example, the Chanel No.5 fragrance used by Cindy Crawford is absolutely not the same as that used by Marilyn Monroe (initially there was a high content of ylang-ylang, but since 2010 there are restrictions that apply to the use of this component).

Do you have a favorite perfume? Or maybe you have some tricks when choosing the perfect perfume? Tell us in the comments!