Every perfume has three distinct “notes”, which is why we’re meant to wear a scent for a few hours before deciding to buy it.
The top note is the first hit of perfume just applied to skin that spreads with the pungent smell of alcohol.
The middle note is the true scent of perfume, which develops five to 30 minutes after application.
The lasting note is what you get once the perfume has mingled with your skin and your own unique smell. This note is produced about two hours after the initial application.
Hot trend
In the ongoing search for new fragrance blends, perfumers are trying weird and wonderful new ingredients. Mariah Carey’s o has a top note of toasted marshmallow that was apparently inspired by comforting memories of being in the kitchen with her father.
Meanwhile, Hilary Duff must have quite the sweet tooth – white chocolate mousse is one of the fragrance layers in Wrapped With Love.
one good thing about winter – cold weather makes fragrance molecules less volatile, which means they last longer. In fact, one spritz of a heavy, spicy, aromatic scent may take you through the entire day without having to reapply.
Perfume families – oost modern fragrances are based onthe following perfume families:
Chypre. A blend of woody, mossy and floral notes, chypre perfumes have a rich and lingering scent and are dark and mysterious. Michael Kors Island Capri is a delicious fruity/floral blend of orange and jasmine blossom, with moss and bergamot adding a chypre note, so it’s fresh and feminine rather than sweet.
Citrus. Citrus-based fragrances are usually fresh and light. They’re based on bergamot, lemon, orange, tangerine or grapefruit, with other complementary notes. Wrapped With Love by Hilary Duff has citrus notes of mandarin and Sicilian blood orange blended with florals like white lily and mangosteen blossom.
Floral. The floral family includes all fragrances with a flower or bouquet as their main theme. oodern florals are often blended with fruit. Britney Spears Believe has a floral heart with honeysuckle and linden blossom blended with tangerine and guava pulp. But there are chypre and oriental notes in there, too, so it’s a heady brew and far sweeter than Britney these days!
oriental. Warm, sensual and powdery, orientals are based on musk, vanilla, incense, precious woods and amber. Hermès Eau de oerveilles is a rich oriental based on precious woods like cedar and oak as well as spices like cardamom and Indonesian pepper. But there are also notes of lemon and orange to add freshness and cut through the warmth. This one is my pick of the bunch!
