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The earliest perfumes were made from a combination of oils and flowers, and used to mask unpleasant body odor. By the 17th century, perfume was being used by royalty and the upper middle classes to mark social status. By the end of that century, a French perfumer formulated a scent for each class. The perfume of aristocrats was more expensive, and the perfume of servants was cheaper. Using scent as a means of establishing one’s social standing is still a common practice in many societies.
Perfume has also been associated with emotional states, and a few perfumes have earned the reputation of having “aromatherapeutic” properties such as reducing stress or increasing heart rate. But it seems that a learned emotional association with an odor rather than the direct chemical action of an olfactory molecule is the more likely explanation for these effects.
How long a perfume lasts on the skin is determined by how much water or alcohol it contains, and also by the type of fragrance. Perfumes with more water or alcohol can be sprayed on clothing and may last longer that way, but they can also leave behind stains. Perfumes can be stored in dark, cool places with few rapid changes of temperature.
Perfumes are usually applied on the neck and wrist, where blood flows close to the skin’s surface. This is where the scent is most noticeable, but it can also be applied on the ankles, cleavage, chest and arms. To get the most out of your perfume, rub it in lightly. Then apply it again about three hours later, when the middle and base notes are most noticeable.