Perfume for beginners

Are you a fragrance novice? Here’s an introduction to the secrets of scent

Welcome to the world of perfume. Here’s an introduction to what you need to know about fragrance and finding the perfect scent.

The power of perfume

The part of our brain that controls smell is related to that which deals with strong emotions and memories. Have you ever noticed how a smell can suddenly bring back vivid flashes of past events and emotions? By the same token, it's easy to get sentimental when a loved one changes their signature scent. We choose scents that personify those characteristics we most want to embody ourselves -- our fragrance becomes a part of us.

What is perfume?

Perfume is made up of odoriferous materials of a synthetic and/or natural origin. The oil of these materials is extracted and combined with alcohol to make fragrances. Traditional perfume-making techniques, involving the extraction of essential oils from plants, are saved for only the finest of fragrances.

Different types of perfume

Perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette/cologne are all alcoholic solutions of fragrance oils. They differ in the percentage of oil contained. Here's a quick guide:

Perfume

Also called parfum, this is the most potent and the most expensive product in the perfume family. It has the highest concentration of oil. It seems expensive, but you don't need to use much of it for the scent to linger.

Eau de Parfum

A very close second to perfume.

Eau de Toilette/Cologne

These are weaker solutions of fragrance oil, but are popular because of convenient spray bottles. Even though the bottle may be bigger, the oil is less concentrated.