Smell is the toughest of the five senses to convey in film, but Gregory Magne’s “Perfumes” manages it with a feather-light, delightfully engaging ode to scent and its cultural resonance. Anne (Emmanuelle Devos) has a rare talent: She’s an expert nose, a sommelier for fragrance.
A perfume contains a mixture of essential oils, extracts or chemicals that are blended and diluted with alcohol to create the desired effect. The mixture is sprayed on the skin and hair to give off a pleasant smell. Perfumes are typically stored in cool areas to preserve the longevity of the fragrance.
In the past, women were viewed as having more social standing if they wore a light fragrance, while men were expected to smell clean and masculine. This is in contrast to today, where there are no social distinctions for wearing perfume or cologne, and both genders enjoy the freedom to choose their own fragrances.
Fragranced products are subject to safety legislation in different countries, but perfumes are not required to list all ingredients on the label. This is because they are considered trade secrets and a perfume company may not reveal the exact formulation of their creations.
Eau de parfum is more concentrated than eau de toilette and can contain 20 to 40% fragrance oil. It is a rich and long-lasting fragrance and can be applied sparingly. Eau de parfum is usually more expensive than eau de toilette because of the higher concentration.