Facts you should know about Perfumes

Since the dawn of civilization humanity likes nice smells. At first we got them directly from the nature – from the flowers and other materials with pleasant odors but in time we began to manufacture mixtures of these materials and make scents that cannot be found in nature. Perfumes are one of these mixtures and here are some facts about them:

• In the Western cultures, perfume is applied at pulse points like behind the ears, the nape of the neck, and the insides of wrists, elbows and knees so a pulse would warm the perfume and release it into the air. Others say that perfume also should be applied on clothing and hair. Opinions differ because perfume can leave stains on clothes.
• Perfume applied to body can last approximately to six hours, but many fragrances can last up to twelve hours, and even more than that.
• Perfume comes from Latin “per fumus” which means “through smoke”. The first scents were smokes of the burned odorous materials.

• As with everything else in fashion, there are rules for use of perfumes in many institutions. Perfume should not be smelled at a greater distance than an arm’s length of the person that wears it. So no “clouds” and “tails” of scent are “permitted” in such institutions. There are also places where perfumes are totally forbidden.
• When the weather is hotter, a lower amount of perfume should be applied. Also, light and fresh perfumes are recommended for such weather.
• Perfumes that contain alcohol (which is most of them) can cause dryness in hair so perfumes should not be applied to hair too often.
• Perfumes often smell more intensively when are applied to hair.
• The same perfume can have two different smells on two different persons because of different chemistry of their skins.
• Molinrad, perfume manufacturer from France, started producing a fragrance called “Habanita” in 1921 which was used for scenting cigarettes.
• Today's perfumes have between 10 and 250 ingredients.
• Many today's perfumes don't use natural scents like flowers anymore but synthetic ones.
• Perfumes can influence the mood and can even make you feel better.
• Studying in International Flavors & Fragrances Perfumery School, where you can learn to be to become a connoisseur of fragrances, lasts between five and seven years.
• Today's technology can synthesize almost any type of smell.
• Scents that have floral notes are not a good idea to be worn in parks and open air natural places because they can attract insects.
• Not mix perfumes (wear them at the same times). Even when you test new perfumes don't test more than three one after another because you will “confuse” your nose (you will not be able to differentiate between scents with too much odors). You should make pauses between tests or even smell some fresh coffee which will “reset” your nose.
• If your skin is dry, perfume will not last long. You should first apply petroleum jelly or some type of skin moisturizer and then perfume which will prolong odor. Many skin lotions work well for this purpose.
• Over one third of scents for men are worn by women.
• Perfumes are best kept in cool (moderate room temperature), dry and dark place.
• “Clive Christian No.1, limited edition men perfume” is one of the most expensive men's perfume. It is produced in just 1000 bottles every year and the price of each bottle of 30ml is around $1800.
• Reason why perfume managed to spread throughout Europe was because of perfumed leather gloves which were popular in 16th century. Glove makers perfumed gloves to cover the smell of treated leather which was prepared in ammonia.
• The first fashion designer to design her own signature smell was Coco Chanel. It was, now famous, Chanel Number 5.
• Some scents can cause asthmatic reactions in some individuals and excessive use of perfumes may cause allergic reactions of the skin.