Sunday, October 19, 2008

The Fine Art of Interpreting Perfume Review

If you like fragrance, you've probably run into the perfume review. They appear on websites, in magazines, and sometimes are even given verbally as one person tells another about some new perfume on the market. It is actually very difficult to write or talk about a perfume in mere words. After all, you have to use words to talk about smells and language doesn't always work well when called upon to describe aromas.

Look at most perfume reviews or try to describe your favorite cologne to a friend and you'll discover that you can only really talk about one smell in terms of another. Perfumes may be described as being musky or floral or having bergamot top notes.

If you're a perfume lover, you know what those things smell like, even if you have no idea what a bergamot is. But if you're new to the world of fragrance, it can be confusing.

To truly appreciate perfume, you need to know some basic ingredients. Bergamot, for instance, is one of many varieties of citrus. Citrus scents (lemon, orange, grapefruit and others) are sometimes grouped into a fragrance family called "fresh."

Florals come in lots of types and it takes a pretty educated schnozzola to truly distinguish between gardenias and tuberoses and tulips and iris and magnolias and all of the other different flowers that find their way into perfume bottles. Perfume makers usually blend numerous floral scents together. To get the bouquet effect, try Joy by Jean Patou or Eternity by Calvin Klein.

Some perfumes use one flower or make one floral note utterly dominant. Very Irresistable by Givenchy is a rose perfume; it uses lots of different types of roses to get some nice harmony going, but it's rose. The old-time Muguet de Bois by Coty was lily of the valley.

Many popular scents right now use fruity notes: peach, watermelon, guava, and so on. The newest Bond No. 9 perfume, Coney Island, smells like Margarita mix. Other food-like scents borrow notes of chocolate (Angel by Thierry Mugler), coffee (Harlem by Bond No. 9), and sugar (Sugar by Fresh).

More common perfume ingredients include sandalwood, patchouli, musk, and amber. These typically form the base notes or foundation of the scent. Most fragrances are built in three time-release layers. Top notes are experienced first, then fade into mellower heart notes, which finally dry down to the base notes. These layers are the reason that perfume can smell different after a few hours on your skin than it did in the bottle.

Spices and botanicals have long been an important mainstays in fragrance, and you can find scents with cinnamon, cardamom, cypress, and rosemary in them. These tend to be heavier, more dramatic scents.

Most perfumes today rely heavily on synthetic ingredients or lab-produced fragrance molecules. This allows not only for more uniform analogs (for instance, lab sandalwood smells the same batch to batch) but it has allowed creative aroma scientists to invent smells that are called things like "ozone" or "rain" or "fresh-cut grass."

The original synthetic ingredient in perfume had no natural counterpart. Aldehyde was an artificial scent, designed to be completely man-made. It found its way into Chanel No. 5, Evening in Paris, and other scents and is still used today. It frequently mixes with flowers and is often described in reviews as "sparkling."

What does aldehyde smell like? It cannot be described. A good way to find out is to go to a department store perfume counter and ask for a sample spray of Chanel No. 5. You'll probably smell the floral portion first. But notice the sparkles? The bubbly, not-really-floral smell? That's aldehyde.

Perfume reviewers typically name the dominant aromas in a perfume. They may describe the perfume in terms of top notes, heart notes, and base notes. Occasionally, a perfume reviewer will compare one scent to another.

Thus, for many perfume lovers, the description suffices. A critique is not necessary. After all, many of us have utterly subjective reactions to certain fragrance and a good perfume is in the nose of the beholder.

If you learn that Hanae Mori Butterfly is a woody Oriental fragrance with notes of strawberry, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and almond, you should know if those things appeal to you. Personally, I am very partial to light Oriental fragrances and I love sandalwood, so this scent sounds good and the strawberry part makes me curious.

On the other hand, if you hear about Omnia Crystalline by Bvlgari and learn it is a light floral with bamboo and lotus, that describes a very different scent. Will you like it? That depends on how you feel about floral fragrances with some offbeat notes. (Sounds great to me.)

Perfume is a lot like music for the nose. There can be a lot of complexity in a great perfume that is not immediately apparent. The main notes are the melody; but what other layers support the melody line? Perfume reviews sometimes try to analyze how the perfume is "built."

Reviews can get even more descriptive. A review may call scents exuberant, airy, bold, sensual, or mysterious. That sort of description can be helpful in helping you to imagine what the perfume smells like. But it's sort of like the way some connoisseurs talk about wine ("bold," "impudent," or "robust"). If overdone, it starts to sound silly.

Many reviews characterize scents as mature or youthful, suitable for day or night, light or heavy. These are more like judgment calls and should be taken with a grain of salt. Just as we found out that you don't have to have red wine with beef, there are "scents for evening wear for mature ladies" that are being worn by kids in broad daylight.

A great perfume review is less like a criticism than a miniature portrait of a fragrance to help buyers understand what something smells like. That's actually a pretty difficult thing to capture in words!

from: MyDailyPerfume.com

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Friday, October 17, 2008

Perfumes - Do's and Dont's

Perfumes are available in a wide range and you can be utterly confused about which to choose and which not to. Perfumes can leave you fresh and even make you turn a few heads. But you should learn how to correctly apply fragrances for maximum scent effect.

Perfume Dos:

* You must choose a perfume that suits you. You must not choose one just because your friend or relative picked it. As different fragrances tend to have different effects on people, you must try one and see how you like it before buying the same when shopping. In this way you can also know how your body chemistry reacts to it.

* It is better to change your perfume according to the season. You may need a stronger perfume in winter as the cold may reduce the scent's power.

* You must shop for a perfume preferably in the afternoon as your sense of smell is at its peak around noon.

* If you have dry skin, wear more perfume. You might also have to apply fragrances more often than those who have oily skin.

* Applying your perfume immediately after having your shower will enable it to have lasting effect. This is because your pores open up after a bath, allowing the perfume to be soaked into your pores.

* You can also apply perfume to your pulse points for maximum effect. The inside of your wrists, at the temples, behind the knees, behind the ears, between the ankles, toes and thighs are some of the best places for applying perfume.

Perfume Dont's:

* You should not overdo it. Applying too much perfume can make the other people very uncomfortable and may even cause headaches.

* You should avoid spraying perfume near pearls or costume jewelry. This is because as perfume contains alcohol it can strip these jewels and remove their coating.

* You should never combine perfume with deodorant or deodorant soap. The combined smell may be unpleasant.

* You should buy perfume only after testing it on your own skin first. Spray a little on your skin and see how it reacts and also make sure to see how long it lasts.

from: MyDailyPerfume.com

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Thursday, October 16, 2008

Perfume Personality

Many people wear perfume to attract, be trendy, make a statement, or simply smell good. However, many people as well don’t know what kind of perfume really suits them and often make the less than ideal purchase. To make sure you get the right perfume that will react in the best possible way to your body chemistry, you have to determine your perfume personality. Here are some guide questions that will aid you in doing that.

1. Where are you going to use the perfume?

Consider the environment and the whole setting of where you are going to use the perfume. For instance, one of the major factors to think of is the weather and climate. Do you live in very humid or hot setting? Do you live in cold temperature? Fragrances with floral tones and a musky base often complement humid weather, as well as green and ocean based fragrances. For cooler climates, deep oriental scents often work great.

Aside from the temperature, you have to consider the actual environment you plan to use the perfume. Is it for office wear? If that’s the case, you might want to choose a milder musk because not everyone likes a certain fragrance and some may even be allergic to it. If you plan to use your perfume for daytime activities, light, floral and citrus-based fragrances often smell great. Meanwhile for after work celebrations or parties, spicy or amber-based fragrances are recommended.

2. What is your purpose in using the perfume?

Be honest in why you want to buy a perfume. Is it simply to complement your natural everyday smell? Is it to avoid smelling so sweaty while working out or exercising? Or is it to attract people and be more desirable? If you plan to use your perfume a lot while working out, get a perfume that’s neither too strong nor too mild. Too strong perfume can combine heavily with sweat and evoke an unpleasant smell, while too mild perfume may fail at its purpose.

Meanwhile, if you want to wear perfume to attract the opposite sex and be more confident, wear a perfume that best allows you to express what you are and what you feel. There are 6 general perfume categories divided into both type of smell and a person’s mood. Floral scents are light and feminine and great to use if you want to feel all feminine and delicate. Fruity scents are perfect if you always want to smell fresh and good enough to eat. Green-based scents are rejuvenating and makes you feel and smell energetic and always on the go. Oceanic scents are light reminders of the waters and are rejuvenating as well. Woody scents are based on leaves and barks are often exotic and seductive. Lastly, oriental scents are sexy and strong and are great fragrances if you want to make a lasting impression.

3. What is your budget?

When you’ve determined every bit of your character and purpose in buying a perfume, you just have to consider one last thing: your budget. It’s not a good idea to splurge in a perfume you can barely afford because that also says a lot about you. On the other hand if you feel like splurging because you just want to use it in special occasions, then do so. The most important thing is you feel good and not guilty of your purchase, all things considered.

from: MyDailyPerfume.com

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Perfume In Ancient Egypt

Perfume was at the centre of aesthetics and therapeutics for both men and women in Ancient Egypt. Although the techniques used are mostly unrecorded, historians look to the literature of Greek and Roman writers and relief paintings and artefacts to determine the production, fashions and uses of perfume in this fascinating era.

The act of making perfume was considered an art form in Ancient Egypt. The craftsperson was considered to be an artist and the profession was open to women as well as men. The perfume making process of extraction can be determined by reliefs on the walls of tombs in Petosiris. These show that perfume making had an overseer, workers who completed the extraction and a professional tester who completed rigorous testing using the sense of smell.

The reliefs also pictorially detail two extraction processes. The first process shown was an ancient mechanical extraction process which was similar to wine production. This required a large bag and two staffs which were used as a press. The second was a form of chemical extraction with the assistance of heat and soaking in alcohol. The processes are early versions of modern perfume extraction techniques that have only really advanced in terms of equipment available and synthetic ingredients.

The reliefs also show red berries poured from a container, which details the nature of the products used to extract different scents. The ingredients used in perfume were usually plant in origin such as henna and cinnamon. The ancient natural philosopher, Pliny the Elder, records floral scents such as iris, bitter almond and lilies in his Natural History as being used in abundance. Myrrh which is a resin from shrubs and other aromatic woods were used. Animal fats such as musk are also recorded as being used in some perfumes. Some Egyptian recipes are still in existence though they are difficult to replicate.

However, the Egyptians had typically exotic tastes, and in addition to home grown essences, they also imported aromatics such as ladanum from Arabia and East Africa, galbanum from Persia, and the coveted frankincense due to unsuccessful attempts to grow it in Egyptian climes. The fact that ingredients were imported even in ancient times shows the importance of perfume. The imported varieties were expensive and initially reserved for the use of the gods or export only.

Excavated reliefs show that from ancient times the blend and quantity of perfume was as important as how long the scent would last. Perfume was a major export material in ancient times with various countries battling to produce the highest quality. Susinum was a particular favourite, and the competitive nature shows that in ancient times, some form of uniformity and standard was expected. Pliny the Elder described an Egyptian perfume that retained its scent after 8 years, and the ancient Greek botanist, Dioscorides, agreed that Egyptian perfume was far superior to that made by other civilisations.

Egyptian perfumes were usually named after the town of production or the main ingredient. Storage was in glass or stone vessels, with alabaster being the most coveted. The decoration was ornate and often bejewelled, with packaging reflecting modern day requirements of functionality and attractiveness. Perfume was burnt as incense, as named in documents from the reign of Thutmose III which detail different varieties such as green incense and white incense. Perfume was worn for aesthetic reasons, in the form of oil based liquid infusions, or wax and fat for creams and salves. This suggests there was also a medicinal purpose recognised.

Perfume was mainly for the elite classes until the golden age. It was used by kings who were believed to be of divine descent as it was believed that the gods favoured perfume. High officials were anointed with perfume when they were appointed to office to call the favour of the gods.

Incense was used to hide the smell of animal sacrifice during ceremonies. Balms were seen as medicinal as perfume was thought to repel demons and win the favour of the gods. Perfume was also an important part of death and burial rites. Bodies were perfumed during mummification as it was believed the soul would visit the gods and so perfume would repel demons. Interestingly, 3300 years after Tutankhamen death, scent could still be detected in his tomb.


from: MyDailyPerfume.com

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Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Perfume for Women and Perfume Gift Sets Information

Perfume bottles

Have you ever wondered about women who pass by you and leave the most sensational, enticing fragrance that absolutely delights your senses? Well, then, it is time for you to stop admiring and get your perfumes right, too!

Choosing the right perfume isn’t easy at all. The right perfume is one that should highlight your sense of style and individuality to the rest of the world. A good perfume should be able to add that final garnish effect to enhance your personality

If you step into any place where perfumes are sold, you would be taken in by the sheer extravagance of the perfume bottle itself. The bottles would come in rare and trendy shades, designs, shapes and so on. This means that it isn't just the description or the fragrance of a perfume that appeals to you. It isn't even the glamorous ads of your favorite celebrity endorsing a perfume that does the trick. Sometimes, it is that very perfume bottle that wins your heart.

Perfume bottles, as we mentioned in the beginning of this discussion, comes in a variety of shapes, colors, and materials. Thus, the overall look of the bottle is sufficient to reflect the personality of the fragrance itself because most customers are enthralled by the visual impact of a perfume bottle, the mélange of color and design that is an integral part of its packaging.

This is also a part of brand building and marketing to reinforce the visibility of a product again and again like a powerful imprint. Marketing experts build and boost the scope of a product to create a niche for it in the competitive marketplace.

Coming back to perfumes, there are many people who wouldn’t even bother to test the perfume simply because the attractive look of the perfume bottle was enough to impress them. That is why packaging and design are given great importance today as it plays a great role in selling a product successfully to the end customers.

Perfume bottles that are currently available in the market have detailed designs to initiate a positive impact among the consumers. In fact, there are those who collect perfume bottles that look rare and classy. This isn't a joke. In fact, the International Perfume Bottle Association has thousands of members from across the world! This association enjoys great popularity with its readers and displays its collection of beautiful and rare perfume bottles on their online gallery. So if you are someone who loves to gaze at a spectacular range spanning antiques to contemporary designs, you shouldn’t miss visiting the online gallery.

There are stunning stopper designs, unique bulbs that delivers a slight spray of scent and a great range of impressive designs that suit the current trends. The result is that the collector market is emerging as a place where collectors compete to show off their perfume bottle designs.


from: MyDailyPerfume.com

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Monday, October 13, 2008

Perfume – The Secret to Good Grooming

Smelling good is one of the goals in every grooming regimen. Others are not satisfied in just looking clean. They also want to smell clean as if they carry a sweet aroma with them. Most of the time, a person with fragrant smell is attractive. What good is there if one will look clean but smells otherwise? Or smelling good but looks untidy? Grooming is all about looking clean and smelling clean.

Good thing, it is easy to smell good these days. And one of the things that can get this done is the use of perfume. Even in the early centuries, the perfume is part of the cosmetics that is applied every after bath. Perfume supplements the body’s smell after bath. Nowadays, perfume already comes in different shape and sizes. There are perfumes that can be carried along easily. With perfume, you can walk around with a sweet pleasant aroma.

Perfume comes in different pack. The bottled perfumes are the ones that usually have elegant designs. There are those that are long and sleek. Others are short and circular. There are large perfumes that are good for how many years of uses and those that are easy-to-carry perfumes that fit any handbags. While it comes in different sizes, it also comes in different shapes. There are just many shapes in perfume bottles that make it a perfect collectible item. Even though some perfume is used up already, others still preserve the bottle as collection because of the unique shape or design. Commonly, perfume colors are transparent. But there are those who have colors, depending on the ingredients. Most of the time, the colored perfumes are in light colors: pink, aqua blue, yellow, orange, mint green. Most importantly, perfume has various smells. There are those that are harsh to the nose while there are those that are subtle. People who choose perfumes usually look into the shape of the bottle and its smell.

Perfume is one of the gift ideas for different occasions. It can be a gift for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas gifts, and any family events. Although it is ordinary to own perfume, what makes it extraordinary is the smell, the shape of the bottle, and the brand. The more expensive perfume brands linger for a long time. Its ingredients are usually unique and they can be worn both in ordinary days and in special occasions.

There are hundreds of different perfumes available in the market. All are made to satisfy the smell. Nevertheless, people have certain preference on the smell that suits the taste and the lifestyle. So with hundred of perfumes to choose from, there is surely one that suits the person’s desired smell. You can buy perfumes in ordinary retail stores or in specialty stores. In ordinary stores, they are usually found in cosmetic sections or toiletries. In specialty stores, you would see perfumes for different walks of life and any age. There are perfumes for teens and perfumes for adults. Still there are those that fit different lifestyles.

from: MyDailyPerfume.com

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Sunday, October 12, 2008

Online Perfume Shopping Statistics

One of the greatest discoveries of online fragrance shopping today is Perfumes and Pampering.

In regard to what makes an online store presentable, Perfumes and Pampering succeeds in many if not all areas. Let's address some of them, shall we?

Comparing Popularity is one thing to take note of but not a deciding matter. Just because a website has abundant traffic, does not mean it's worth the purchase because they are popular. Price mostly governs the worth of the purchase. Perfumes and Pampering is not an infamous online shopping store. It seems to be progressing rapidly: High search ranking, Exquisite & Abundant collection of fragrances and all well priced for any frugal shopper.

In terms of Content, as mentioned above, the vast stock of Perfumes and Pampering tops over 7000 genuine designer brand name fragrances. I think that’s enough for anyone. Even if you're looking for a rare design, chances are you could find it at Perfumes and Pampering.

The Presentation on the website is crucial to any online business. Well done web pages with no outside content or excessive advertising are found on Perfumes and Pampering. They don't waste time filling their pages with puzzling distracting content irrelevant to the website. Easy Alphabetized and details on all the products make out for all the information you need.

Except for Frugalness. But that’s where you will find, that even with price comparison sites, Perfumes and Pampering have their products well priced to compete with any other online perfume store. Going even further, let's say you did find a cheaper fragrance somewhere else. Does it have Free Shipping AND a discount? Most probably not. Perfumes and Pampering offers both options on their products. If a shopper is frugal enough, eventually he or she will end up on Perfumes and Pampering.


from: MyDailyPerfume.com

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