For women, using perfumes has been a regular essential in their everyday lives. Perfumes have been on the market for centuries. All over the world, there has been strong demand for scents for a very long time. Perfume and perfumery existed in the Indus Civilization, in what is today India, about five thousand years ago.
When it comes to women’s perfume these days, there is a plethora of choices and scents that can suit every type of taste and preference. For consumers today, there has never been so much choice out there.
With so many different products for sale, when you are going to choose a perfume, you need to be sure about a few things before zeroing in one one. Whether you want Dior or something like Chanel, it’s important to know what to look out for.
Presentation
Even though we say that one should not judge a perfume by its bottle, good packaging can usually give us a good idea about the manufacturer and the quality of its fragrance. Typically, a nice coloured and a attractive bottle forms part of a marketing strategy to lure potential customers.
If a product is well presented, it is more likely to be a top-quality one than one that is badly-presented. The world’s top perfume companies spend billions of dollars every year on presentation.
Fragrance
You should never buy a perfume only by looking at its physical packaging. When considering which option to choose, getting the right fragrance, i.e., one that suits you best, is extremely important.
Good quality perfumes have a long-lasting fragrance, while their cheaper counterparts soon lose their effect. There is no point in purchasing a cheap product whose fragrance vanishes within a few hours. It is also a waste of money, regardless of its price.
Top-quality perfumes should have a fragrance that lasts up to a whole day, even if you have been very active. You can find out whether a specific product has a long-lasting effect by doing some research. Consumer reviews are good places to check them out. You could also ask friends, family members, and work colleagues.
Not only are there hundreds of options on the market today, there are also virtually unlimited combinations. Fragrances can be combined with surprisingly pleasant results.
Parfum
Parfum, which is also known as extract de parfum, has the highest concentration. They can vary from 15 to 40 percent of the entire concentration. As a result, they have the highest lasting capacity. Parfum is also has the longest-lasting fragrance of all the products on the market today.
Eau De Parfum
Eau de perfum is next in line after parfum. Here, the concentration of fragrance is about 15 to 20 percent. You should expect this product to last for 4 to 5 hours once applied.Though they have a high alcohol concentration, they are generally suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Eau De Toilette
Here, the fragrance concentration varies from 5 to 15 percent. They are cheaper than the above-mentioned varieties. The fragrance of a typical eau de toilette should last from two to three hours.
Eau De Cologne
Eau de cologne has a far lower concentration of fragrance compared to the other three we have described in this article. Its effect won’t usually last more than a couple of hours.
So, which type of perfume should you purchase? It depends on many factors, but above all, your preference. Also, the occasion may influence what you apply to your skin. You may have one type for use at home or with friends, and another for very formal occasions. There are, for example, citrus, floral, and fruity fragrances. You can even find oriental, spicy, and woody aromas.
Etymology of perfume
Etymology is the study of the origin or words and how their meanings evolved over time. The word perfume first appeared in the English language in the 1530s. At the time, it meant ‘fumes from a burning substance.’ It came from the Middle French Word Parfum, which meant ‘to scent.’
The Middle French word came from two Latin words: 1. Per, which meant ‘through,’ and ‘Fumare‘ which meant ‘to smoke.’
It wasn’t until after 1540 that the English word acquired the meaning ‘fluid containing agreeable essences of flowers, etc.’
Historically, men have also used perfume a lot. During the twentieth century, male perfume usage declined. However, since the beginning of this century, sales of men’s aftershave and other liquid fragrances have increased considerably.