How to pick the right perfume

The trick to finding the right perfume from a crowd of random colognes
 Does your lady love think of you when your perfume lingers on her dupatta? Or does it remind her of a department store's on-sale section? The difference between a gentlemen's sophisticated cologne and the pungent overuse of cheap deodorant could be the difference in your confidence levels.
 Be it chatting up a woman or making a statement at the board meeting, every man needs to find a scent that suits his personality and compliments his dressing sense.

 Wearing one fragrance simplifies your morning routine; men who change colognes like they would their gym pants are likely to be lost in a crowd. The journey to finding their one fragrance includes a bit of soul searching and some help from us.

The family parfum
 The first step is to have a clear understanding of which scents appeal to you. Look for traits of a classification system for fragrances, like florals (dominated by one or more flower), amber (both, sweet and exotic) and woody (typified by sandalwood and cedar tones). Then there is the leather family (honey and tobacco), bergamot and labdanum are found in the chypre category, and herbaceous fougere scents are composed of lavender, coumarone and oak moss. Modern fragrance families include citrus-based scents, aquatic ones (which are clean and unisex) and green scents (which are light and typified by notes like grass or cucumber).

Listen to your nose
 The fragrance you choose will represent you, so search deep for what aspects of your personality you'd like to highlight. Take your time when searching for the right mix of smells that define you. Visit your nearest mall and sample the spoils. Breathe in deep and imagine the scene before you. Let your nostrils linger and trust your gut.

 Refrain from making your own potions by Googling aphrodisiacs. Knocking a girl out with a whiff of your potent elixir won't work, trust us.

Sniff to select
Cleanse your nasal palette. Don't sniff more than three scents in one session and put something woolly, like a scarf, close to your nose to inhale between smells.
 Keep in mind your natural body odour, the weather of your city and is places you travel to. How active is your usual work day? This should impact your choice.

The cheat code
 If you think you are steadfast with a mysterious allure, go for a musky, amber-based scent.

full Article

 

Fragrant Options for Men and Women Presented by Beauty Research

Fragrance has a dramatic impact upon a person's overall image. Many people become known for their scents and find that the fragrances that they wear directly impact their mood and state of mind throughout the day. As a result, many people who want to change their images for the New Year look for new signature scents. The latest article by BeautyResearch.com, Fragrant Options for Men and Women, discusses the various types of fragrance products on the market for men and women in order to help people find new signature fragrances.

Women who are shopping for traditional fragrance products often run into difficulty deciphering the terminology used to describe perfume products. By knowing more about these terms, women can make better decisions regarding fragrance purchases. What do terms like "eau de toilette" and "eau de parfum" mean? How should women approach choosing between the various types of fragrances? Is it important for a woman to wear the same kind of scent all year round? To find out, visit BeautyResearch.com or click

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/27/fragrant-options-for-women-and-men.aspx

Men's fragrance products are typically divided into two types: after shave and cologne. Even though the choices are simple, many men struggle to decide which one is best. What is the difference between cologne and after shave? How do their benefits differ? Are both types of men's fragrance suitable for all men? To find out, visit BeautyResearch.com or click

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/27/fragrant-options-for-women-and-men.aspx

Some women do not like traditional perfume or want to find products that have pleasing fragrances and can be used along with regular women's fragrance formulas. What are some of the alternatives to traditional fragrance that are available on the market? Are there any brands known for making great alternatives to ordinary fragrances? For what reasons might a woman opt for a non-traditional fragrance product? To find out, visit BeautyResearch.com or click

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/27/fragrant-options-for-women-and-men.aspx

Just as some women do not like wearing spray perfumes, not all men want to use cologne or after shave on a daily basis. Are there alternatives to traditional men's fragrances available on the market? If so, what types of products are there? Which brands are known for creating scented products specifically for men? To find out, visit BeautyResearch.com or click:

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/27/fragrant-options-for-women-and-men.aspx

See also:

"Where to Shop for Post-Holiday Sales"

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/26/where-to-shop-for-post-holiday-sales.aspx

Once the holiday shopping season comes to an end, retailers often mark down merchandise in hopes of selling off excess inventory. Post-holiday sales provide opportunities for consumers to enjoy big discounts, but in order to get the best deals, shoppers need to know precisely which types of stores are most likely to have the biggest markdowns. Discover the secrets to timing a post-holiday shopping trip to find the absolute best prices waiting in stores. Learn which brick and mortar stores are most likely to offer major discounts after the holiday season. Explore options for saving when shopping online, particularly once the holidays have come and gone.

"Beauty Tool Body Transformations"

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/23/beauty-tool-body-transformations.aspx

Body skin is every bit as susceptible to imperfections as the facial skin, and many women find that flaws that develop below the neckline are difficult to address with topical products alone. Beauty tools designed for the body can help women see better results from body care routines and minimize many imperfections. Find out about the best tools on the market for dealing with patches of rough skin on places like the elbows, knees and heels. Learn about high tech and low tech skin care tools developed specifically for the dermatological needs of the hands and feet. Discover how a beauty tool can help address problems with cellulite deposits and which one can leave the skin appearing firmer and smoother.

"Clarifying Solutions for Men"

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/20/clarifying-solutions-for-men.aspx

Many men are prone to oily skin, developing symptoms like clogged pores, acne and greasiness all year round or during the warmer summer months. For men with problem skin marked by excessive oiliness, clarifying skin care products that help to normalize the production of the skin oil sebum are often beneficial. Explore the various types of clarifying products that are made especially for the needs of men's skin or that are suitable for men to use to address oiliness. Find out how shaving affects oily skin and what can be done to clarify after shaving. Discover brands and products that are geared toward men and that offer clarifying solutions for daily skin care regimens.

About Beauty Research

Beauty Research is a beauty blogging web site started by two experienced skin care enthusiasts wishing to share tips and suggestions. The blog includes all kinds of articles related to celebrities, fashion, women's health and diet. For more information, visit http://www.beautyresearch.com.

Source

21 Uses Of Fragrance Oils

Just as there are countless number of perfumes and colognes, there are as many fragrance/scented oils. From the designer Chanel No.5 to Armani Code, to all sorts of DKNY fragrances among others which are a mixture of several fragrances, to the single regular everyday scents like Jasmine, Vanilla, Lavender, Baby Powder, Honey suckle, Lemon, Orange, Rose etc there are myriad scents all over.



But what to do with all these oils? There are quite a number of uses:

5. Use some on your skin as perfume.

6. Add a drop on your cold light bulb to scent a room.

7. Add a few drops of lavender oil in your bath water for a fresh just showered smell.

8. Add some to a gift package bow, to give the gift an extra personal touch.

Full List

Why it's Best not to Wear Perfume Nor Take the Pill when Looking for a Mate

Fine perfume might be more intellectual and spiritual in nature than instinctual after all. A few years back - in 2008 - there were a series of articles on olfaction and attraction shedding light on enduring sexual attraction thanks to new research on the role of the contraceptive pill. It is required reading if you wish to grasp some of the potentially thwarted "chemistry" at work when choosing not only a compatible mate, but a long-term one...

The research resulted in the practical advice not to be on the contraceptive pill when dating - and even in order to perfect the approach, not to wear fragrances in the first few weeks of getting to know someone so as to be able to olfactorily ascertain the soundness of the basis for your sexual attraction. It has to do with MHC genes compatibility - they should be not too similar, but not too dissimilar as well. These are as unique as a finger prints so there are no obvious visual predictors such as the color of skin, or race. Only your nose will tell, provided no pill is involved and perfumes do not blur the olfactory message too much although a link has been found between perfume preferences and the Major histocompatibility complex. If you and someone else consistently show similar cologne preferences, this tends to mean you have similiar MHC genes, and so are not biologically compatible actually. They should stay great buddies of yours.

Full Article 

How to Tell If You've Put on Too Much Perfume or Cologne

We all know that person whose "signature scent" you can smell from across the room. But what if you're the one who's stinking everyone out with your heavy handed application of perfume or cologne? Here are a few tips to make sure you're applying just the right amount.

Too much fragrance not only is a turnoff, it can give people migraines or even allergic reactions. The problem is that some people don't have a very good sense of smell or they've become desensitized to the fragrance they wear every day. According to TLC, wearing too much perfume can also be an indicator of depression.

The site offers these tips to tell if you're putting on too much:

To tell if you're a potential offender, put on your perfume as usual, wait five seconds, then put a tissue on that spot. The tissue shouldn't stick. Time can help remedy the situation, but a quicker way to cut down on the odor is to put rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and apply that on the areas where you put the fragrance.

Get into the habit of not wearing too much perfume in the first place and knowing where to apply it. Instead of putting it directly onto your skin, spray one blast upwards in the air in front of you and walk through the mist it creates. Choose a couple of places, such as your chest and neck and when applying, hold the bottle a good 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) away from your body when you spray. If you're wearing a heavier scent, try applying it just to the lower part of your body, like a quick spritz behind the knees. The scent won't rise as quickly and be as irritating to others. You'll find the proper balance soon enough, and your scent will draw people closer rather than repel them.P

Full Article on Lifehacker  

5 Things You Didn't Know About Perfume, Courtesy Of Frédéric Malle

We like to consider ourselves pretty scent-sitive (har, har) when it comes to fragrance. As our perfume preferences have evolved, we're finally able to sniff out top and base notes — and sometimes even the layers in between. But, like our favorite multi-dimensional fragrances,there's a lot more to perfume than meets the nose. The man with a firm grasp on all its many nuances? Frédéric Malle.

And, lucky for us, his newly relaunched website is a goldmine of tips and tricks for choosing and applying fragrance. Case in point: Though we religiously put perfume on our pulse points, it might be wise to spritz it in our hair instead. Because of the slight oiliness of hair and the heat emitted from the head, scent has more staying power and will diffuse throughout the day. But, Malle cautions, “Be careful not to spray hair too often, as the alcohol contained in the fragrance might dry it.”

Click on over to Beautylish to learn four more little-known facts about fragrance from the mix master himself. (Beautylish)


5: More expensive doesn’t mean better.

Even as a purveyor of high-end fragrances, Malle admits that price is often a marketing tool used to “position” perfumes. “Fragrances are like food; they can be delicious and cheap. A talented perfume can make a great fragrance for little money,” he writes. The brand prices its products based on the cost of its raw materials and their concentration (“like a restaurant that sells a dish made with caviar for more than something cooked with eggs and potatoes!”). Also, synthetic-based perfumes can be more expensive than natural ones, which feels counterintuitive given the price of some organic and natural skin care lines on the market. This is because rare, high-tech raw materials are often more expensive than natural oils and essences.

How to (Really) Wear a Fragrance

“Perfume should be discovered, not announced.” I read that line many years ago in a magazine, and ever since then I have been extremely conscious about, ahem, overdoing it. I love wearing fragrance—I love everything about it. But as with all things, there is a right way to do it.

To help demystify the technique, I reached out to Wendi S. Berger, creator and president of Pour le Monde, a newly launched 100% natural perfume company. (I love this brand—the scents are really fabulous but best of all, each one of their fragrances benefits a different charity!)

There are so many misconceptions about fragrances, says Berger, and here, she shares her expert advice.

How to find your scent:

1. Fragrance is so subjective, which is why the fragrances in Pour le Monde’s collection are all very different. To find a scent, think about when you’ll be wearing it and what season. If it is a daily fragrance for work or hanging with Mom, you may want something lighter and less powerful like a light floral or green. For the winter months, you may be drawn to something bigger; for summer, a citrus or something sporty.
2. If you’re just looking for a new signature scent, shop around, and wear before you buy. The top notes of a fragrance are known as the “sales” notes, meaning they’re what you first smell and what sells the juice. Top notes fade, depending on if the fragrance is synthetic or natural, in about 1-2 hours, and then the middlenotes or “heart” of the fragrance really evolve on your skin, smelling different than when you first applied. That’s why you should test-drive perfume.
3. Don’t buy what smells good on someone else. Our own body chemistry can dictate how we’ll wear the fragrance, and many times we will carry it much differently than our friends.

How to wear it:

4. Never rub wrists together—especially with naturals! Rubbing creates friction, and friction creates heat. Essentially, you have rubbed off the top notes of the fragrance—which are usually what attracted you to buying it in the first place.
5. Don’t put it in your clothes. The fragrance may last longer, but because some fragrances (like naturals) were developed to heat up from your skin, spraying directly may not only stain your clothes, but will make scents stay flat and, over time, get stale. The only positive is that the chemicals found in synthetic fragrances won’t leach onto your skin and into your body.
6. It’s OK to lightly spray on your hair. It will last longer (especially the top notes). “Lightly” is key, as you don’t want the alcohol to dry out your ends.

How to store it:

7. So many of us have our fragrance trays in the bathroom. Bad idea! All that changing heat and humidity can affect the compounds of the fragrance.
8. The refrigerator is humid too, so it’s not a better alternative.
9. It’s best to store perfume in a dimly lit, climate-controlled area. Your closet is the perfect place! If properly stored, a fragrance can keep for several years.

Source

In the Garden: Flower fragrance a factor

It’s not too early to begin thinking about plantings for next year. One quality often overlooked is flower fragrance. It is sensed daily in the indoor/outdoor atmosphere. A landscape, large or small, should have a plant with outstanding fragrance. For some, it could be a potted gardenia, an indoor/outdoor plant with superb fragrance.

My most prized fragrance is that of a lilac flower. The worst most unfavorable fragrance (odor) is that of a skunk. If you are ever sprayed by a skunk, the experience will be with you for a lifetime. There are a few plants with very unpleasant fragrances.

Barb and I were introduced to lilac fragrance in May 1960 when we visited our presenthome as prospective buyers. The lilacs were in full bloom and the lilac scent completely smothered the entrance. It seemed like it happened this year. That was our pleasant introduction to plant fragrance. I called the fragrance “heavenly.”

For the purchase of a fragrant tree or shrub, I suggest the first year be devoted to visits to garden centers/nurseries while plants are in bloom. After the growing season, decide which plants were most impressive. There is no substitute for on-site visits when evaluating plant fragrances.

There are many descriptions of fragrance. Terms may include slight, moderate, medium, strong, heavy, intense, old-fashioned, overpowering and more. Some fragrances are more specific and include fruity, herbal, citrus, sweet, clove, vanilla, honey-scented and many others.
Fragrant choices

• Lilac — My first choice. The old-fashioned lilac tends to have the best fragrance. Visit them in early to mid-May for bloom time. One recommendation is named Albert F. Holden, from the breeding of the late Father Fiala of Medina. It grows to a height of 8 feet with purple flowers and plenty of lilac fragrance.

• Rose — For a fragrant rose it’s hard to beat Chrysler Imperial, a hybrid tea. It overflows with rose fragrance from the dark red flowers. There are many more non-fragrant roses than those with fragrance. The one downside of the newer shrub roses is a lack of fragrance. It will likely only be a matter of time until the fragrance barrier will be developed.

• Annuals — Many annuals have some fragrance, but it is nothing outstanding. My most memorial fragrance was when I grew some carnations several years ago. Plants were started in the light garden and the flowers had sensational carnation fragrance. Heliotrope with the dark purple flowers has flowers with a vanilla fragrance, unusual very pleasant. Marigolds have a fragrance, but not to the liking of most people.

Some petunias offer a rather sweet fragrance.

• Herbs — The herb group has a good variety of fragrances. Some of the mints have citrus fragrance. I planted one with lemon fragrance many years ago and it has spread everywhere. I smell it every time the mower gets near it. Rosemary has a unique fragrance and is often used in cooking for the added flavor. Herb leaves release many different fragrances for cooking purposes.

• True lilies — For bulbs, the true lily not only has large colorful flowers, but offers a sweet fragrance that can be detected many feet away from the plant. The lily show at Kingwood Center in July is most pleasant because the meeting hall is filled with lily fragrance from dozens of lilies in full bloom.

• Others — Spring bulbs like daffodils and hyacinths offer fragrance. The late flowering Cheerfulness daffodil has a strong fragrance. Hyacinths are noted for their strong fragrance in the April garden.

Besides a lilac, other shrubs with fragrant flowers include mock orange, spice viburnum, honeysuckle and honey scented summer sweet hummingbird. Always check mature size and avoid those that have a tendency toward invasive growth.

Richard Poffenbaugh is a retired biology teacher and active home gardener since 1960. He is a member of the Mansfield Men’s Garden Club and was editor of the club newsletter (The Greenhorn) for 21 years. He resides in Ontario with his wife, Barbara. Reach him at 419-529-2966.

5 Tips for Finding the Perfect Perfume for Your Wedding Day

When it comes to your wedding day, you'll want to smell as amazing as you'll surely look. That's why finding the right fragrance is just as important as picking out your dream wedding dress. Before you start spritzing, you'll need to know when to shop, how to test out various perfumes, and what will determine the best scent for your body. You—and everyone who catches a whiff—can thank us later.

1. When you embark on shopping for a wedding-day fragrance, go in the afternoon, when your sense of smell is at its peak.

2. Find your fragrance type. Are you "fresh" (i.e., a fruity floral) or "warm" (e.g., a spicy musk)? Picking one will help you tailor your search, says Chris Wyatt, head of global education at Jo Malone.

3. Don't be a follower. Body chemistry can change the way a perfume smells, so what works for your BFF—or your favorite celeb—may not work for you.

4. Skip the blotting strips—because you won't know how a scent smells on your skin until it's, well, on your skin. Aim the atomizer at pulse points like your wrists, neck, and décolletage. And limit yourself to two scents per shopping trip to avoid olfactory burnout.

5. Sit with it. Most perfumes take at least half an hour to dry. And until one does, you won't be able to smell the top, middle, and base notes. So take a little walk before you commit.

And if buying perfume over-the-counter doesn't do the trick, why not try a custom blend? Hello, you're personalizing your cocktail—why not your fragrance? Bespoke perfumer Sarah Horowitz just launched Original Scent (from $99) helping brides and grooms create totally one-of-a-kind wedding fragrances. You can even have yours made into a unity candle for your ceremony. Love that!

Clockwise from top: Elie Saab Le Parfum eau de toilette, $75, neimanmarcus.com; Stella McCartney L.I.L.Y. eau de parfum, $100, sephora.com; Victoria's Secret Beauty Love Is Heavenly eau de parfum, $42, victoriassecret.com; Michael Kors Gold Rose Edition eau de parfum, $98, michaelkors.com; Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina eau de parfum, $74, nordstrom.com

—Written by Brides

Buy Crikey: Perfume it all smells good, whatever the source

Christmas decorations are appearing in the shops and it won't be long before perfume sales skyrocket. But where will you be buying your perfume?

A friend of mine is smitten with Coco by Chanel. But Chanel is Chanel, whether you buy it at Smith & Caughey's or online from a perfume discounter.

Only the price and the fussing by a sales assistant are different.

I did a quick search online this week to compare prices.

A 100ml Coco eau de parfum bottle starts at $164, including postage, at Fishpond.co.nz, and strawberryNET.co.nz/beautynet.co.nz is not far behind.

There are many online sellers, with names such as Fragrancesandcosmetics.co.nz, Pharmacydirect.co.nz, ozcosmetics.co.nz, Smells.co.nz.


I prefer to buy from retail brands I know - be they online or high street.

My friend used to shop through StrawberryNET, but has returned to the Farmers fold for the discounts with that store's club card and to support New Zealand retail.

There is always a risk of getting a fake when you buy through an unknown website.

That's one of the reasons I'd never buy perfumes at a weekend market, pop-up store, or from private sellers on Trade Me.

It's very easy to buy a bulk lot of fakes through the internet from China and flog them off - although it's against Trade Me's rules.

If the bottom dollar is what counts to you, then shop around. As well as websites, there are other cheap outlets, which sometimes have good prices.

The Warehouse sells perfume cheaper than the upmarket counters. And you can sometimes pick up a bargain at Postie Plus.

I've eaten humble pie this week after having always been suspicious that the importer's clearance sales at the North Harbour Stadium and ASB Showgrounds looked dodgy.

I did some research and discovered that the company behind these sales is Big Bucket Deals, owned by The Warehouse. I will be checking out these sales the next time.

The Warehouse has been busy in the perfume space. As well as selling parallel imported perfume through Big Bucket, in store and via its Red Alert online-only deals, it has recently started ilovebeauty.co.nz.

This week, that site had Yves Saint Laurent Paris Eau de Toilette 75ml at $95.99 including free postage (over $75). That price just pipped other local online suppliers.

Finally, another way to save money includes dropping your snobbery and buying cheaper brands, such as Avon or the Body Shop. Sometimes they're smell-alikes for more expensive brands.

Source

'A man must invest in a good perfume'

Style file: Sharman Joshi, actor

Fashion to me is: Not trying too hard to look stylish. At the end of the day, you've got to be comfortable with what you're wearing.

My style mantra: Very casual. I don't believe in following trends without knowing whether they suit me or not.

One thing that makes me feel sexy: A nice shower and great clothes. If you look good, you feel good. What you wear adds a lot of confidence to your personality.

Five essentials of a man's wardrobe: A black shirt, a white shirt, a pair of jeans, a great pair of shoes and underwear if you care(winks).

A priceless possession I'd never want to give away: My classic Rolex watch. I wouldn't part with it for anything.

My ideal outfit for:

A fun party: Jeans and shirt

A formal work setting: Trousers and a well-ironed shirt or maybe a tuxedo, depending on the ambience

A casual day out with friends: Track pants and a T-shirt with a cool print A date: A pair of denims and a crisp white linen shirt.

My shopping strategy: I never think twice before buying anything. I follow my instincts. If I like something, I pick it up.

Perfumes I swear by: Azzaro, Hugo Boss, Polo Green and Issey Miyake.


Full Interview 

The Secret to Finding Your Perfect Perfume

The wall of scents that hits you when you approach a sea of perfume bottles is overwhelming to say the least. With so many notes lingering under your nose, it's hard to know where to start much less what will smell great on your skin. But with a few expert tricks, you can train yourself to sniff out your ideal perfume. Illuminum fragrance expert Bart Pawlak is breaking it down one whiff at a time.

Don't lock yourself into a certain scent.
"Never stop discovering new notes. As humans, we are naturally drawn to the familiar, so too often we end up with a lot of similar fragrances in different guises. Don't be afraid to explore different scents that you may not expect to like."

Set limits on how much you smell, even if it means making a few trips.
"Smelling fragrances is difficult for the untrained nose, and when we're testing many at a time, we can get sensory overload," says Pawlak. "Try a maximum of six fragrances at once."

Use your arms to your advantage.
"It's best to spray it on your skin and not just a blotter. It takes contact for a fragrance to come alive, and each one will smell differently as it reacts with your individual PH levels, your body temperature, and your own personal scent."


This is not the time for impulse buys.
"Let it develop on your skin throughout the day. If you still like it after all that wear, only then should you return to buy it."

You may want more than one.
"You don't have to (and sometimes shouldn't) wear the same fragrance all the time. Daytime scents are softer-think of florals. For night, you can wear a more intense perfume, like one with notes of thick amber or balsam. These will thrive where lighter scents would struggle to shine."

Now take your new smelling skills for a spin and sniff out some signature scents to wear this season.

Source

“I Have Over 200 Pairs Of Shoes And 200 Bottles Of Perfume” – Empress Njamah

Actress and one-time partner of singer Timaya, Empress Njamah in a recent interview with Punch talked about her fashion style and lots more.

Excerpts from the interview below.

What does fashion and style mean to you?

I think they are everyday life. Your fashion is your style.

Do you think you are a fashionable person?

It is not for me to say. My style might be different from what the other person calls fashion. And my fashion can be different from what another person calls her style. I don’t think there is anybody who will say she doesn’t like the way she looks. But basically, it takes a good eye to know good fashion.

Are you daring in fashion?

I will not say I am not daring. As an actress, I have to be versatile. But you have to be daring at the right function. What I wear in Nigeria is different from what I wear abroad. It might be fashionable to you and an eyesore to some other people. Basically, I dress for the event and the country. Sometimes, you need to make a statement but you have to be comfortable while making a statement.

You also have so many footwears

I was able to give out 85 pairs of shoes to orphanages in Abuja and Lagos. I was left with more than 200.  You would feel you have given out enough but at the end of the day, when you go back and count, you will find out that they are still there.

What is the most expensive fashion item you have?

If someone spontaneously tells you something, then it is not true. If you can afford something very expensive, then you can buy other things at that same price. You cannot just possess one expensive item and you have that thing on your head. For security reasons, I might not want to mention them, but I have quite a lot of things that I bought and my friends ask me if I am crazy. It is my passion. I work hard so I can be able to spend my money.

Do you love perfume?

I am a perfume person. I have bought a perfume that is worth over N300, 000. I have over 200 bottles. It is either you are into something or you are not. It doesn’t mean that there is no cheaper perfume that smells better than that one, but it is something you like and you want to pick it.

Original Post

3 Perfumes Brides Will Love and More Wedding Fragrance Tips

Finding your signature scent is one thing, but deciding your wedding-day perfume can be a little daunting. Renee Bukowski, senior product development manager of Tru Fragrance, gave us her insight to choosing, wearing, and even gifting fragrance for a wedding. So whether you're the bride, bridesmaid, or guest, we have tips to help you decode wedding-day perfume.

What are your tips to help brides choose a wedding-day perfume?

Renee Bukowski: Scent is very powerful, as it often acts as an emotional trigger for special moments and memories. When choosing a wedding-day scent, brides should pick something special that has a shared significance with her partner — a scent that her partner will recognise her by. I recommend brides reference flowers they have chosen for their bridal bouquet, as these usually are flowers they like, and they're usually in bloom that season.

What are some classic fragrances or notes you would recommend for a bride on her wedding day?

RB: Floral fragrances work well for a bride on her big day, as they suit the femininity of the dress and the occasion. There are a lot of modern roses and classic floral notes, such as white floral, which have been modernised for today, and fragrance houses often combine them with fruity notes. Fragrances featuring the beautiful notes of modern rose include Chloé Eau de Parfum ($90), Chanel Chance, or Dior J'Adore ($199.95). If it is outdoors, I'd recommend a light scent opposed to an evening wedding or black-tie wedding, where I'd suggest a slightly stronger scent.

What steps can a bride take to ensure her fragrance stays on from ceremony to reception?

RB: Wedding days are usually long affairs, so I suggest brides keep a purse-size bottle or rollerball of their fragrance with them, allowing them to discreetly apply it throughout the day. I also recommend applying the scent to the neck and pulse points to ensure the fragrance is long-lasting. For tips on how to give fragrance as a gift, just keep reading.

Any tips for gifting fragrance to the bride?

RB: When gifting fragrance to the bride, I would not surprise her, but instead pick out a scent you're sure she likes and will enjoy. I would speak to the bride about her favourite fragrances — perhaps incorporate it into a bridesmaids get-together — or you could even go shopping together to find a special scent for her. You can help her discover a spectacular fragrance that can be her "something new."

Source

A Cleansing Oil That Could Be a Great Perfume

All cleansing oils require a two-step process. First, you slather the transparent liquid all over your dry face, then you wet your hands and wash the stuff off, taking care to spend extra time gently rubbing the eye area to remove stubborn makeup. However, the beauty of an oil-based formula is that it breaks down grease and dirt, so there's no need to reach for your makeup remover prior to cleansing. Dior's new Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil does all of the above, plus it smells positively divine, owing to the lily extract inside.

But don't worry: This cleanser is not overly perfumed. It smells like a freshly laundered sheet that was left out to air in an open meadow (not that I've ever done this, but the idea is nice). The scent lasts for a fleeting moment and then vanishes with water. Honestly, if Dior decided to turn this delicate lily fragrance into an actual perfume oil for purchase, I'd buy vats of it.

Rest of the article

What's the Shelf Life of Perfume?

According to MARILYN VOS SAVANT from Parade Magazine


I believe this is the final answer: Perfume lasts as long as you continue to like the way it smells. Why should you discard a bottle of pleasing fragrance just because it’s six months or two years or two decades old? The decision is entirely up to your nose, as it was when the bottle was new. No expert can argue otherwise. If you think the perfume smells good, it is good!

Perfume pour you By Karissa Montania

With every season of summer, spring, winter or fall, new memories will be created, whether it is through time spent on campus with classmates or evening dinners with friends. The scents of perfumes are oftentimes linked with memories, and some fragrances have more distinct aromas for certain times of the year. Here are a few tips on how to choose your personalized scent for summer.

DAYTIME

If you’re stuck in a fragrance rut and don’t know how to choose, then test out the smells of different perfumes in stores like Macy’s, Sephora or Nordstrom.

What you’re looking for in a daytime scent is certain notes that emit a floral aroma. Scents can smell differently on each person, so spray it on yourself and let it sit for a while so that you’ll know what it smells like specifically on you.

The smell of a perfume can change from the time you put it on to the time you walk out the door, so make sure you are satisfied with how the scent lingers on your skin.

Dolce and Gabbana’s “Light Blue”  ($70)
It has the aroma of a white rose along with amber and cedar wood undertones.

Marc Jacob’s “Daisy”  ($68)
This fragrance is more intense than the previous one, but is sweet enough to wear either on campus while reading a book or spending your time shopping. “Daisy” has notes of strawberry, jasmine petals and vanilla.

NIGHTTIME

For nights out, sticking to scents that are more overpowering than a daytime one and are slightly musky work well. Nighttime fragrances should not be as floral as the daytime ones and shouldn’t have as many sweet ingredients like jasmine and vanilla.

Look for something spicier with hints of cinnamon or lemon.
If you want to create your own scent for day or night, spray a combination of two fragrances that share similar notes.

Coco Chanel’s “Mademoiselle” ($64)
It has the right mix of aromas with a lemon note; this perfume is a good choice for nights out because it is potent and not as fresh as daytime scents because of the citrus element.

 Ralph Lauren’s “Romance” ($65)
It contains a blend of floral and wood scents; somewhat of a mixture of night and day but with notes of marigold, musk and ginger it tends to be more of an evening scent.

Source

How to Store Perfumes

Step 1: Select an opaque, air-tight bottle for your perfume.
• Exposure to sunlight and air causes perfume to break down and have its scent altered over time. Opaque, air-tight bottles protect the perfume from these elements.
• Try to select a perfume that already comes packaged in an opaque, air-tight spray bottle, since transferring the perfume exposes it to air and should be avoided if possible. If the perfume you select is in a clear bottle, or comes in a bottle that is meant for splashing or dabbing, the benefits provided by transferring it to an opaque spray bottle will usually outweigh the damaging effects of the transfer.
• If you prefer to keep your perfume in a bottle with a screw-on lid or stopper, make sure the lid is always twisted on as tightly as possible, or that the stopper forms a tight seal.

Step 2: Limit exposing your perfume to heat and humidity.
• Bathroom cabinets and counters are not ideal storage locations because of the humidity caused by baths and showers.
• Although cool temperatures are ideal for perfume, storing your scent in your refrigerator is not ideal, since the humidity inside refrigerators is not hospitable to perfume.

Step 3: Look for dim locations in which to store your perfume.
• Closets and dresser drawers are better alternatives to displaying the bottles on shelves, counters or vanities. When perfume is displayed openly, the lighting in the room can break down the scent over time.

For More From Dr. Blossom Kochhar

'Try it first' perfume service boosts sales for The Fragrance Shop

The retailer, which has 146 shops in the UK, including a site at the Westfield Stratford City in east London, said the new service has helped to drive a rise in sales over the last year.

The “try it first” initiative is designed to boost online sales for The Fragrance Shop. It provides customers with a free sample of the purchased fragrance, meaning they can test it before opening the full bottle and return the fragrance for a full refund if they do not like it.

The success of the scheme helped chain to record a 15pc increase in sales to £81m in the year to March 31, with a click-and-collect online ordering service accounting for 17pc of sales.

On a like-for-like basis, sales increased 3.5pc. This helped profits before tax and interest to rise 20pc to £10.2m.

Entire Article 

Women Waste Thousands Over A Lifetime On Expensive Perfumes

Admittedly women like to shop, who doesn't? We've been stereotypically branded as shoe and handbag obsessed, but according to market research women spend about $7 billion a year on makeup, and other beauty related products.

In the US alone, 68 percent of women dole out their dollars on beauty products – purchasing two or three times more blush, lipstick and gloss, foundation, concealer, eyeliner, mascara, and eye shadow than they’ll ever need or use. A makeup bag can easily contain a few hundred dollars in the abovementioned enhancements along with brushes to apply them – much of which will expire long before it’s ever used.

Beauty isle real-estate is cutthroat. Often an over-buy can be stimulated by concern a particular product will be in limited supply or discontinued. We also like to impulsively experiment with products, but ultimately we stick to a few tried-and-true favorites – whether it’s a $2 mascara or a $25 eyeliner.

Still the spending and waste can be astronomical as many of the items contain a similar mix of ingredients but are radically priced across a wide spectrum.

A UK market survey sampled 2,100 women, 18 and over, and found many of them spend thousands frivolously over a lifetime – an average of £3,600 (about $5,500 US) – on overpriced fragrances they’ll likely never wear.

Eight percent of respondents admitted they owned upwards of 10 or more unused bottles of the pricey scents. But in the end, used or not, what are they really paying for?

When you purchase a bottle of perfume around the price-point of $100 how much of that is for the contents of the bottle you actually spritz yourself with – some more heavy handed than others? Brace yourself – about $2. The actual liquid concentrate – which includes a mixture of distilled water, alcohol, fragrant oils, and chemical compounds – is the least valuable part of the designer perfume. While the mixture of exotic fragrance creating additives can be expensive, it’s typically introduced in very small concentrations.

The remaining $98, broken down, covers the cost of the bottle and packaging, marketing, licensing, and other random fees – including calculating the manufacturer’s profit and potential overhead. Therefore, for your money’s worth, for those of you who are budget minded, you may want to consider asking for a sample size.

Otherwise you’ll be like the 60 percent of the women polled who unabashedly admitted to re-gifting their unopened perfumes to loved ones instead of allowing them to languish in their bathroom, on a dresser top, or boxed away in a linen closet.

[Image via Shutterstock]

source