Perfumes and fragrances date back to many centuries ago where the use of plants, animal sources and incense were used for religious ceremonies. Plants such as peppermint and rose were steeped in oils until a perfumed ointment was formed. It’s interesting to know that perfume has come full circle today.

Modern day fragrances and perfumes have become a multi-billion rand industry. Different brands as you know come with their different price tag attached.  When buying a fragrance, perfumes provide the best value but are the most expensive. Below are the differences between the different fragrances available in stores.

Parfum- Longest staying power, but the most expensive.

Eau de Parfum- less oil and less staying power.

Eau de Toilette-suitable for an office or work environment. A lot less intense as it was originally meant as a body spray.

Eau de Cologne- The most reasonable of the lot, but also has the weakest scent.

When a woman chooses her fragrance it’s usually according to her personality and chemistry. Fragrances smell different on everyone, so it’s best not to test it on a friend but rather on yourself.  Fragrances will smell different a few minutes after spraying so give it a few minutes to settle before making a decision.

Applying your perfume.

You should always apply your perfume to your pulse points and allow it to dry naturally. Do not rub your wrists together as this will alter or even weaken the scent. Spraying perfume behind your ears or near your face will only dry out your skin. These areas have no staying power so it’s a waist.

Don’t spray perfume on your jewellery as this can cause discolouration and staining. For a longer staying aroma, apply your perfume in layers. By doing this it can last you six to eight hours.

Storing your Perfume.

Keep your perfume out of direct sunlight in a cool dark place. This will prolong the life of your scent. Also remember to keep your bottle upright and capped. I am sure most of you hoard you perfumes for special occasions or don’t want to use it every day to try save it, but overtime the scent will diminish and you won’t get what you paid for. So go on, enjoy your perfume today!

Fragrance Do’s

• Choose a fragrance that suits you!
• Change your perfume with change of season.
• Shop for perfume in the afternoon when your sense of smell is at its peak.
• Apply your perfume after your shower and you are completely dry. After you have showered/bathed your pores are totally open allowing the perfume to be soaked into the pores.
• Do apply to your pulse points.

Fragrance Don’ts.

• Don’t overdo it-overpowering smells can cause headaches.
• Don’t spray perfume near pearls or costume jewellery.
• Don’t combine perfume with deodorant, the combination smell may be unpleasant.
• Don’t buy fragrances without testing it on your skin first.

Article By:Zoe Gruss www.beautybulletin.com