INFORMATION

 

1) Fragrance
2) Fragrance Concentrations
3) Fragrance Types
4) Storage

 Welcome to Polly's Information page

 

1) Fragrance

 Perfume is the ultimate beauty product, a pure indulgence for the body and mind. It reacts on contact and releases a fragrance unique to the wearer's skin.
A fragrance is made up of three layers:

Top Note
Middle Note or "Heart"
Bottom Note or "Base"


These layers all emerge and fade in succession, from the application to the drying, resulting in a wonderful scent you can rely on and feel confident all day long.The top notes can be identified as soon as the perfume contacts your skin. If in a spray form, you may detect the smell of the alcoholic solution the perfume is dissolved in. This is temporary, so allow time for the top notes to linger through.These notes are usually of a floral or fruity origin, are light and shape the primary make up of the fragrance.The middle notes otherwise known as heart notes or the heart of the perfume provide the core of the fragrance. As the top notes dry the heart develops. These are usually of a floral nature and define the dry down of the fragrance.The base notes determine how long the fragrance will last. They provide a background for the core middle notes and usually consist of the following common scents: Amber - Musk - Sandalwood - Vanilla.

 

2) Fragrance Concentrations

The concentration of a fragrance influences the packaging and pricing of the product. The main ingredient is an alcoholic water, inside which, the notes of the fragrance are suspended evenly. The percentage of the perfume content determines the strength and category.

18% - 25% Concentration = Parfum/Perfume/Perfume Extract                                                                 
15% - 20% Concentration = Eau De Parfum                                                             
Up to 14%  Concentration = Eau De Toilette
Lower concentrations include
Eau Fraiche
Eau De Cologne
Aftershave Splash

 

3) Fragrance Types

Fragrances can be categorised by what the perfume industry calls "Families". Depending on the source of information there are varying numbers of perfume families. Listed below are some of the well know categories and the types of scents within them.

Floral - This family can be sub-divided into a single floral which is dominated by the scent of one flower. A floral bouquet is a combination of floral origins. Ambery is a sweet, slightly animalic scent consisting of ambergris or labdanum.
The floral family is light, flowery and feminine. Examples include Cacharel Anais Anais and Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely.

The Citrus family is fruity and spiced, often consisting of grapefruit, orange, lemon,redcurrant and lime. They may also contain hints of more exotic fruits making them freah and crisp. Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana is a fragrance from the Citrus family.

Chypre is a combination of florals and fruits and usually blends rich woody aromas too. Bergamot, Oak moss, Patchouli and labdanum are common ingredients, with Chanel NO.19 being a typical example of a chypre fragrance.
 

The Green family is lighter and more modern than the chypre, utilising a combination of the fruits and florals but also blending natural plant oils. Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea is from this family.

Woody - Warm, opulent notes using cedar, agarwood, patchouli and sandalwood. Feminine by Dolce & Gabbana is an example of a woody fragrance.

Fragrances in the Amber family (Otherwise known as oriental) are typically heavy and musk-like. Vanilla and spices are used consistently, the fragrances are soft and powdery, yet very pronounced. Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor and Ysatis by Givenchy are both found in this family type.

Leather - One of the more unusual types, dry and masculine, attempting to recreate the scent of leather, often using tobacco, wood and wood tars. Marc Jacobs for men.

Gourmand - A relatively new idea in the world of perfume. The idea of using edible substances and fragrances to make a scent appealing attractive. Vanilla and tonka bean are favourites in this category, an example of which is Emporio Armani's Diamonds.

Oceanic is a very new idea in the family of fragrances. Clean, fresh and smelling of the sea, Dune by Christian Dior is one of the first examples of this new era scent.

 

4) Storage

There is no hard and fast rule to perfume expiry. Most fragrances will last upto three years, some many more, the secret is to store them in a manner that maintains optimum effectiveness. The three negative factors which destroy your beloved perfume are heat, light and air. Ideally you should keep your products boxed in a drawer or cupboard (The bathroom is probably the worst area to store perfume as the humidity is constantly changing). Each time you open a perfume vessel the fragrance will oxidize and deteriorate. This is more so for splash bottles, Atomizers are more favourable so why not consider transferring some of your favourites scents? If you apply your perfume with a bottle stopper, remember to wipe clean with a lint free cloth.
If your perfume smells slightly vinegary, appears darker than usual or sticky, it's probably time to discard it and treat yourself to a new one.