Q1、Why do perfumes smell different on different people?
Your own body chemistry affects how differerent notes react on your skin. Anything that affects the “natural” smell of your skin, such as stress, hormonal changes, your current diet or medications, might change how a perfume smells on you. For a more detailed explanation, see here.

Q2、How can I make my perfume last longer on my skin?
All other things being equal, perfumes evaporate more rapidly from dry skin, so the best way to make fragrance last longer is to use a relatively heavy body lotion or cream. Some people like to buy the “matching” cream for their fragrance, but you can also use an unscented cream like Cetaphil, or try petroleum jelly or jojoba oil. You might also try a light mist to your hair, which is said to hold scent longer than skin. For more discussion on this topic, see Perfumista tip ~ how to make fragrance last through the day.

Q3、What are Eau De Toilette, Eau De Parfum, etc?
These terms refer to the strength of the fragrance, or more specifically, to how much high grade alcohol and/or water has been added to the fragrance oils. Parfum (generally the most concentrated form you can buy) has 15-25% perfume oil dissolved in alcohol. Any mixture with a lower proportion of oil to alcohol is an eau (water).

Eau Fraiche (Usually 3% or less perfume oil)
Eau de Cologne (2 – 5% perfume oil)
Eau de Toilette (4 – 10% perfume oil)
Eau de Parfum (8 – 15% perfume oil)
Soie de Parfum (15 – 18% perfume oil)
PARFUM or Perfume (15 – 25% — also sometimes referred to as extract or extrait)
Perfume oil (15-30% perfume oil in an oil rather than alcohol base)

You may also see the term Parfum de Toilette. Most companies use this term to describe a concentration that is either the same as Eau De Parfum, or between Eau De Parfum and Parfum. Other companies use the term to describe an Eau De Toilette concentration.

To further confuse matters, some companies use different notes, or different proportions of notes, in the different forms of fragrance they offer. In addition, some companies reserve costly fragrance oils for their parfum, and use synthetic substitutes in lighter concentrations. Read more at Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out.

Q4、What are top, middle, and base notes?
Top notes provide the first scent impression of a fragrance once it has been applied to the skin. They are usually lighter, more volatile aromas that evaporate readily. Their scent usually lingers for between 5 and 30 minutes. Middle notes, sometimes referred to as “heart notes”, make up the body of the blend. They may be evident from the start, but will usually take 10-30 minutes to fully develop on the skin. They are the notes that classify the fragrance family (floral, oriental, chypre, etc, see below). Base Notes are those with the greatest molecular weight. They last the longest, and are also important as fixatives, that is, they help slow down the evaporation rates of the lighter notes, giving the fragrance holding power. Common base notes include oakmoss, patchouli, woods, musk and vanilla.

A fragrance which does not have traditional top, middle and base notes is usually described as “linear”.

Q5、What are the “fragrance families”?
These are “aroma groupings” of related scents. There is more than one classification system in use, but many list 7 major families: Greens, Florals, Aldehydics, Chypre, Oriental, Fougère & Tobacco/Leather. You can find a longer explanation at Perfumista tip: on fragrance families.

Q1、How long can I keep my perfume before it “turns”?
Some industry experts say that perfume should be replaced every year, but properly stored, perfumes should last much longer. Most perfumes will keep several years, some will keep many more years than that.

To store perfume properly, keep it away from heat and light. A dark closet or a covered box is best. Also avoid direct exposure to air. Splash bottles, which expose the fragrance to air every time they are opened, are problematic. Consider decanting into a smaller atomizer for regular use. If you apply perfume directly from a bottle stopper, wipe the stopper with a clean, lint free cloth before replacing it in the bottle.

Q6、How many milliliters are in an ounce?
Here is a quick conversion chart:

100 ml = 3.3 or 3.4 oz
50 ml = 1.7 oz
30 ml = 1 oz
15 ml = 1/2 oz
10 ml = 1/3 oz
7.5 ml = 1/4 oz
5 ml = 1/6 oz
3.7 ml = 1/8 oz = 1 dram

Note that all of these are approximate; strictly speaking, 1/2 oz is 14.787 ml.

A standard perfume sample is in a 1/32 oz (1 ml) vial. You can see a picture showing sizes of standard perfume bottles in the article on decanting (scroll down).

Q7、What is the difference between essential oil and perfume oil?
Essential oils are volatile, fragrant liquids extracted from plant leaves, bark, wood, stems, flowers, seeds, buds, roots, resins and petals, usually through steam distillation. In other words, they are raw materials that can be used to create perfumes.

Q8、Where should I apply perfume?
Always spot test any perfume first on the back of your hand. Then apply it where the skin is warm with good blood circulation, because the heat helps diffuse and magnify the aroma of fragrance. The pulse points on the body are the perfect activators for perfume, which include the base of the throat, inside the wrists, inside the elbows, below the ear lobes (not behind), at the base of the throat and behind the knees. Basically anywhere you feel a heartbeat.

Q9、How can I make my fragrance last longer?
The secret to long lasting fragrance is in fragrance layering. Build up layers of scent on the skin by using different forms of the same fragrance, such as massage oil or dry oil spray after shower on damp skin, body cream, then spray perfume spray and a couple dabs from a perfume roll on. Each reinforces the impact of the other to increase the life of your favorite scent.

Q10、Why doesn’t fragrance last on me?
Unfortunately for some people, your body chemistry causes perfumes to evaporate more quickly from your skin. Perfumers would say that your skin throws off fragrance. Instead of lasting for some 3 to 4 hours, it disappears within an hour, sometimes shorter. The rate of evaporation triples or even quadruples on your skin.Why? The acidity of your skin is a possible culprit. Lick your wrist. Does it have a sharp, tangy taste? That is a sure sign of acid. And the more acidic your skin, the more it will tend to throw off perfume. Medicines, too, will change your body chemistry. Low fat diets, stress, spicy foods, fast foods all affect body temperature and encourage the skin to throw off perfume. Add dry skin and pregnancy to the list and you will see why so many women complain about the staying power of their fragrance.The solution? Put an emollient layer between your skin and your perfume. Layer your fragrance to extend its life. Use a body cream or solid perfume that matches your fragrance to create an emollient foundation for the perfume. It will slow down the rate of evaporation and increase the life of your perfume.

Q11、What is the best way to spray on perfume?
Spray about 8 inches away from your skin. An even spray over a wider area will help your fragrance last longer than a generous amount in a small area. Do not rub one wrist against the other to dry the fragrance, it will bruise the notes and dull their development.

Q12、How should I store my perfume?
Keep your fragrances in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Extreme heat or cold will upset the delicate balance of the oils and change their scent. As with most personal care products, the standard shelf life is one year.

Q13、What should I do if I develop an allergy to a perfume?
If a scent makes you cough, wheeze or gives you a headache or a feeling of nausea, immediately get away from the perfume and take a deep breath of fresh air. Breathe deeply for a few minutes, blowing through your nose to clear the nasal passages. If the perfume makes your skin red and itchy, splash the area with cold water for a few minutes and pat dry.

Q14、I do not like this scent, how do I remove the perfume?
Sometimes you’ll apply a scent that just does not do it for you (been there many times). Here’s a few simple ways to slay the fragrance beast:
1. Dip a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol or witch hazel or vinegar and wipe away the scent.
2. Create a paste of equal parts of baking soda and warm water. Rub it into the skin, let sit for several minutes and rinse away.
3. Use hand sanitizer to remove the scent.
4. Use baby or personal wipes to remove the scent.

Q15、Can I tell if I like a fragrance by sniffing the opened bottle?
No. When you cold sniff an open bottle, your nose inhales the volatile top notes. A fragrance needs to be applied to your skin to come alive. It blooms as it reacts with the warmth of your body to create a fragrance that is unique to you.

Q16、Why can’t I smell the fragrance I am wearing after a while?
Several of the senses tire after constant stimulation. The sense of smell classically cuts off within minutes, also called olfactory fatigue. Because you cannot move away from your own perfume, you become used to it. You may think it has disappeared, but others can still smell it.

Q17、Why do I hate some fragrances and love others?
Scientific studies say our response to fragrance is partly learned and partly genetic. We are born with definite likes and dislikes, as well as sensitivity to certain smells. Very early on, life experiences start modifying and adding to them and we build up a complex scent bank of memories and associations. All this stored information determines whether or not we like a fragrance.

Q18、What else might affect my sense of smell?
Sinus problems, respiratory infections and head injuries are all common causes of persistent loss of smell. Prolonged exposure to toxic substances such as air pollutants, industrial chemicals, tobacco smoke and certain drugs can diminish and even damage the olfactory cells. A womans