What it is and what it is for?
The first fragrances to be created were in Ancient Egypt, with the pharaohs and important members of the court being the first to benefit from these.
Thus, the use of perfume has spread all over the world, being currently one of the most requested goods.
The perfume was then conceived with the main purpose of providing a pleasant and lasting fragrance to the human body, since it is produced with aromatic essences.
What are the most used ingredients and their function?
Perfumes are usually composed of a mixture of oils, alcohol and water, but what distinguishes them from each other are their aromatic families.
The main aromatic families of women's perfumes are as follows:
Citruses, extracted from citrus and fruit peels, such as lemon, bergamot, mandarin, mandarin, among others.
Florals, extracted from flowers, such as rose, violet and jasmine.
Cyprus, produced with raw materials derived from mosses, usually from oak, which resemble the essence of the land.
Woody, extracted from the woods, with the example of wild pine, sandalwood and cedar from Lebanon, as well as some hot balsamic resins, such as incense and myrrh.
Orientals, being considered the most intense, since they consist of the junction between exotic spices normally constituted of tuberose, with anise, cinnamon, vanilla, patchouli, among others.
Which types exist and what are their differences?
In addition to aromatic families, another strong characteristic of perfumes is their category, which can be: Eau Fraiche, Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum.
Eau Fraiche is a less concentrated fragrance (less than 5% concentration of essential oils), being the one that lasts the least time on the skin (only 1 to 2 hours). It tends to be used in warmer climates, as it is a fresher fragrance.
Eau de Toilette is the fragrance used most frequently and in greatest quantity, lasting between 4 to 6 hours. It has in its composition between 5% to 10% of essential oils.
Eau de Parfum is the fragrance with greater durability and has a higher concentration of essential oils (10% to 15%). Care should be taken when using on clothing, hair, etc.
What is the most used packaging format and what are the most frequent sizes?
Women's perfumes usually have a more elegant, refined and well-crafted packaging. Like in the perfume Good Girl Eau de Parfum by Carolina Herrera and also in J'Adore Eau De Parfum by Christian Dior.
In addition, the packaging can vary in quantity, the most frequent being 30ml, 50ml and 80ml. There are also travel formats that contain quantities less than 30ml to facilitate transport.
What to take into account when choosing a perfume?
When choosing a perfume there are several parameters that must be taken into account.
For example, as previously mentioned, the intensity and durability that is desired in a fragrance (with Eau Fraiche being the lightest and Eau de Parfum the most concentrated).
Another very important factor is the type of skin. Depending on the oiliness of the skin, the perfume tends to have a greater adherence or not. That is, in the case of skin with more oil, fragrances end up having a greater adherence and, for these cases, perfumes with the oriental aromatic, citrus, or light floral families, are the most indicated.
In the case of people with drier skin, the fragrance aroma evaporates faster, being better to choose fragrances with dense floral, woody or oriental compositions.
In addition, when choosing, personal tastes must also be taken into account, for which the olfactory notes of each perfume are very important.
The notes that a perfume has is what makes it unique, with three types of notes: the starting notes, which are the aroma that is felt as soon as the perfume is applied; the body notes, which give the perfume more personality and also those that last longer; and finally, the base notes that are responsible for fixing fragrances on the skin.
The choice of a perfume can vary a lot according to the personal taste of each one, but these factors make it much easier to choose whether to buy for personal use or to offer.
What are the recommendations for use and tips?
The main question when using a perfume is, invariably, "where to put it?". Some areas of the body are more suitable than others for the application of perfume, as they make it last longer and work better at the olfactory level.
One of the main places is the hair, as the perfume clings to its fibers, which makes it last much longer. Another area is behind the ears, since this area is a pulse point where the blood is warmer, which helps to amplify the fragrance. On the wrists, which are another pulse point that resemble the area behind the ears. Finally, in clothing, due to the fibers of the garment retaining the fragrance, making the odor accompany you all day.
Another very important tip is the place where the perfume is kept. To ensure the durability of the perfume it is important to keep it in a dark and cool place. Places like the bathroom are not indicated due to the perfume being exposed to temperature fluctuations or places with white light, which oxidizes the notes and changes their odor.
What are the reference brands of women's perfumes?
Nowadays, women's perfumes are extremely common, with several brands dedicated to this type of product.
Regarding reference brands for women's perfumes, Chanel marked a very important generation in 1921, when it launched the classic Nº5 Eau de Parfum, who was a sales leader worldwide.
Years later, in 1957, it was launched L'Interdit, the first fragrance by Givenchy, a perfume that had an unparalleled notoriety.
And so on, until we reach the most varied brands we have today, such as Dolce & Gabbana, being one of its bestsellers Light Blue Eau de Toilette, Lancôme with La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum and o Idôle Le Parfum which are two other great references in the world of perfumes and, like these, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Thierry Mugler, Paco Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent, among others, all having several renowned perfumes.
What are the pros and cons of using perfume?
Nowadays, a perfume is indispensable on a daily basis, but we must take into account that in addition to the benefits, it can also have some disadvantages.
The use of perfume promotes a pleasant and satisfying smell on the body and ensures that the person smells and feels good, throughout the day. Since you feel good, you will be more confident in interacting with other people, which can improve your self-esteem.
Perfumes also have positive effects on the brain, each aroma is perceived by the olfactory receptor neurons, which reach the brain to identify the smell, arousing different reactions and sensations, from nostalgia to the joy associated with moments in life.
Better sleep is also one of the experiences that the perfume promotes, because it contains essential oils that relax the brain, often relieving headaches.
On the other hand, perfume can cause major allergies and problems associated with the skin. Chemicals used in the manufacture of perfume are often not recommended for certain skin types, causing sneezing, coughing or hives.
In addition, petroleum jelly, microcrystalline wax, petroleum and other petroleum derivatives are often used to improve the texture of perfumes, but these mineral oils cause the skin to dry out, as they prevent normal skin breathing, clogging the pores. These mineral oils can also impair the skin's defensive functions, causing skin irritations and dermatitis.
