A perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents, usually in liquid form, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects and living-spaces an agreeable scent. The word perfume is derived from the Latin per fumum, meaning through smoke or vapor; the smell is created by evaporation of the liquid. Perfumes can be classified by their composition and concentration; a perfume with higher concentration contains more volatile materials and is more potent than one with lower concentration.
Perfume can be worn as a subtle and sophisticated way to define a personal style. It is important to avoid overdoing it, as too much perfume can be a major turn-off for others. Less is more and it’s always good to keep a few different perfumes handy so that you can switch between them throughout the year, depending on the season or occasion.
Applying perfume properly is a science and involves knowing how the perfume interacts with your skin’s warmth and chemistry. Putting perfume on warm areas like the wrists (so you can smell it yourself) and behind the ears, as well as the neck and shoulders, will help the fragrance last longer and not evaporate too quickly.
Perfumes have layers of notes that unfold in a harmonious accord over time, starting with the top note which is often fruity and fresh; the middle notes which are more complex and accentuate floral and oriental fragrances, or the woody and amber ones; and the base notes which add depth and lasting power to a perfume. A perfume can also have blending and fixing ingredients that smooth out transitions between the different scent “layers” and give the overall scent its character and longevity. These can include the natural compounds linalool and hydroxycitronellal or synthetic ones such as calone, which gives a clean, ozonous metallic marine smell.