Have you ever wondered how to create a truly unique and personalized fragrance that reflects your individuality? The art of layering fragrances offers a world of possibilities, allowing you to mix and match scents to craft a one-of-a-kind olfactory experience. In this quick guide, we'll explore the tips and tricks to help you master the art of fragrance layering, and we'll also discover the benefits of using a smart perfume in this creative endeavor.

1. Start with a Solid Foundation

The key to successful fragrance layering is to begin with a solid foundation. Start with a base scent that you love and want to build upon. This base fragrance should have good longevity and act as the anchor for your layered creation.

"Base scents: The sturdy pillars in perfume layering, exemplified by notes like vanilla, sandalwood, and patchouli."

_{Layering (Photo: Unsplash)}

2. Understand the Fragrance Pyramid

Fragrances are often described in terms of a fragrance pyramid, which consists of three layers: top notes, middle notes (heart notes), and base notes. Each layer serves a different purpose:

Top (Head Notes) Notes: These are the initial scents you smell when you apply a fragrance. They are often light and fresh, providing the first impression of your scent.

Middle Notes (Heart Notes): These notes emerge after the top notes dissipate. They are the heart of your fragrance, offering depth and complexity.

Base Notes: These are the long-lasting notes that appear as the fragrance dries down. They provide the foundation and staying power of your scent.

_{The fragrance pyramid}

"Head notes make a quick entrance, middle notes capture attention, and base notes leave a lasting impression."

3. Choose Complementary Scents

When layering fragrances, it's essential to choose scents that complement each other. You can mix fragrances from the same family (e.g., floral with floral) or experiment with contrasting notes for a more complex blend (e.g., floral with woody).

_{The fragrance wheel}

4. Experiment with Different Concentrations

You can also experiment with different fragrance concentrations (e.g., eau de toilette, eau de parfum) to achieve the desired intensity and longevity of your layered scent.

5. Apply Strategically

To master the art of layering, apply your fragrances strategically. Start with the base fragrance and allow it to settle on your skin. Then, layer the next scent on top, focusing on pulse points such as your wrists, neck, and behind the ears. These areas emit heat, which helps diffuse the fragrance.

_{Apply fragrance on pulse points (Photo: Pexels)}

""Splash fragrance on pulse points, where heartbeats and scents harmonize."

6. Keep It Balanced

Avoid over-layering, as too many scents can become overwhelming. Aim for a balanced blend that allows each layer to shine while creating a harmonious overall aroma.

7. Test and Adjust

Fragrance layering is a creative process, so don't be afraid to test and adjust. Experiment with different combinations, note how they evolve throughout the day, and refine your layering technique over time.

8. Embrace Seasonal Variations

Consider the season when layering fragrances. Lighter, fresher scents are ideal for warm weather, while richer, spicier fragrances work well in cooler months.

_{Cosider seasons when using fragrances (Photo: Pexels)}

The Benefits of a Smart Perfume in Fragrance Layering

Now, imagine having the power to customize your fragrance with precision. This is where smart perfumes come into play. With a smart perfume, you can create and control your ideal scent profile using a mobile app. You can adjust the intensity of each note, ensuring your layered fragrance is perfectly balanced. Plus, many smart perfumes offer the convenience of carrying multiple scents in one compact device, making it easier than ever to experiment with different combinations on the go.

By mastering the art of layering fragrances, and with the benefits of a smart perfume, you can create a signature scent that is as unique as you are. So, go ahead and experiment, blend, and discover your perfect combination. With the right knowledge, a little creativity, and the technology of a smart perfume, you can craft a fragrance that truly represents your individuality. Happy layering!

Perfume, with its enchanting scents and rich history, has been an integral part of human civilization for millennia. In this journey through time, we'll explore the fascinating history of perfumery, tracing its evolution from ancient Egypt to modern times. And at the end of our fragrant odyssey, we'll discover how smart perfume represents the most recent achievement in this aromatic legacy.

Ancient Egypt: The Birthplace of Perfume

Our olfactory adventure begins in ancient Egypt, where perfumery first took root. The Egyptians valued scents not only for their pleasant aroma but also for their religious and medicinal properties. Fragrance was associated with the divine, and it played a crucial role in daily life and burial rituals. Precious ingredients like myrrh, frankincense, and lotus blossoms were used to create perfumes and fragrant oils.

"From the sands of Ancient Egypt, the art of perfume was born. Amidst pyramids and the Nile, these timeless scents echo the mysteries and beauty of a civilization that first captured fragrance."

_{Ancient Egipt (Photo: Unsplash)}

Ancient Greece and Rome: The Perfumed Elite

"Check for the origin of engredients used and accept that sometimes lab made is more environmentally friendly than naturally derived, so be prepared to compromise for the sake of the environment."

The art of perfumery traveled west to Greece and Rome, where it became a symbol of luxury and sophistication. Greeks and Romans used fragrances in daily life, including in their baths and as offerings to the gods. The world's first alcohol-based perfumes were developed during this time, using techniques that are still employed in modern perfumery.

_{In ancient Rome and Greece perfumes became a symbol of luxury (Photo: Pexels)}

The Middle Ages: A Fragrant Revival

During the Middle Ages, perfume-making flourished in the Middle East and Europe. Arab chemists and alchemists refined distillation techniques, allowing for the extraction of essential oils from flowers, spices, and herbs. Perfume played a vital role in masking unpleasant odors during a period when hygiene was less advanced.

_{Hygene was at it's best in the middle ages (Photo: Unsplash)}

The Renaissance: Perfume as Art

"The Renaissance: Where Italy's perfumers transformed scent into art."

The Renaissance marked a resurgence of interest in the art of perfume. Italy, in particular, became a center for perfume production, with skilled perfumers crafting complex and artistic fragrances. Perfume bottles became exquisite works of art, and the connection between scent and fashion began to emerge.

_{Renaissance (Photo: Unsplash)}

The Modern Era: Mass Production and Personal Expression

The 19th century brought significant advancements in perfume production, with the rise of synthetic fragrance compounds and the birth of iconic fragrance houses. Perfume became accessible to a broader audience, and people started to use it as a means of personal expression. Each fragrance told a unique story, and it became a statement of one's individuality.

"The Modern Era: Perfume as a tool of personal expression, each fragrance a unique story."

The Smart Perfume Revolution

Now, in the 21st century, we find ourselves at the forefront of the fragrance world with the advent of smart perfume. This remarkable innovation combines technology and scent, allowing individuals to personalize their fragrances like never before. With the help of mobile apps and sophisticated devices, you can create, control, and adapt your scent profile with precision. Smart perfume represents the most recent achievement in the centuries-long evolution of perfumery, offering a blend of tradition and innovation.

_{Technology is changing the world (Photo: Pexels)}

In conclusion, the history of perfume is a testament to human creativity, ingenuity, and our enduring fascination with scent. From ancient Egypt to the modern era, perfumery has evolved into an art form and a means of self-expression. And now, with the emergence of smart perfume, we stand at the threshold of a new era in which fragrance becomes even more personal and customizable. The journey of scent continues, promising endless possibilities for those who wish to explore the world of fragrances.

Although beauty industry is usually portrayed as glamorous and fun, fact is that it is also one of the biggest culprits in contributing waste to landfills, which to add up often involve making animals suffer. However plenty of perfume houses and brands chose to go against the grain and ensure their impact on the world is positive. To support the nature friendly mindset and to inform about the ways you can contribute to making the world a better place, we are covering some interesting facts about eco-friendly and cruelty-free fragrances.

"What makes a perfume nature friendly is really a wholesome deal: ethically and eco-sourced ingredients, eco-conscious packaging, and creating a social impact are all part of it."

_{Saving the environment (Photo: Unsplash)}

What makes a perfume »nature-friendly«?

There's no legal definition of what really makes a perfume »nature fiendly«, so try thinking about your perfume as a whole, instead of just the finished product. Ethically and eco-sourced ingredients, eco-conscious packaging, and creating a social impact are all factors that contribute to a fragrance's sustainability and »nature friendly« credentials.

"Look for companies who can trace the provenance of their materials and use naturals from an ethical sustainable source especially for things like Vanilla, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Bois de Rose."

_{Ethically and eco-sourced ingredients, packgaging and social impact (Photo: Pexels)}

How do I know ingredients are sustainably-sourced?

"Check for the origin of engredients used and accept that sometimes lab made is more environmentally friendly than naturally derived, so be prepared to compromise for the sake of the environment."

Look for companies who can trace the provenance of their materials and use naturals from an ethical sustainable source especially for things like Vanilla, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Bois de Rose. It is important to accept that sometimes lab made is more environmentally friendly than naturally derived, so be prepared to compromise for the sake of the environment.

_{Sustainably-sourced ingredients (Photo: Pexels)}

How do I know ingredients are ethically-sourced?

"Sadly, you can't. At least there's no legal definitions and these phrases are unrestricted. A good way of knowing could be for you to look for some third-party certifications."

The FDA states that some companies promote their products with claims of being “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals,” but the use of these phrases is unrestricted. There are no legal definitions for these terms, so it's possible for some companies to apply such claims solely to their finished product, however there really is no way to truly know. A good way of knowing could be for you to look for some third-party certifications.

_{Cruelty free? (Photo: Unsplash)}

»What should I look for in »nature friendly« packaging?

"Look for biodegradable, reusable and/or recyclable packaging."

You should be looking for biodegradable, reusable and/or recyclable packaging. Glass perfume bottles and cardboard box packaging are often recyclable but plastic cellophane and pumps aren’t.

_{Plastic waste (Photo: Unsplash)}

Should I be looking for all natural fragrances?

"Not necessarily.. they might be endangered, grown in politically sensitive and war torn areas full of ethical concerns and availability problems which isn't sustainable. Last but not least, they can even be packed full of allergens or impurities."

There is a tendency to believe that natural is safer than synthetic, however that is not entirely true. Eventhough natural perfume materials are sustainable and thought to be »nature-friendly, they might be endangered and not sustainable. Perfumery materials grown in politically sensitive and war torn areas can lead to fluctuations in price and availability as well as ethical concerns. Moreover, they can be highly concentrated and packed full of allergens.

_{»Natural ingredients« (Photo: Pexels)}

Next to the lovely roses, citruses and vanillas in a perfumer’s palette, ingridients like costus, animal musk, civet, pyrazines and many other are often used. They may be used in small quantities, but they’re important enhancers, giving vibrancy, texture and spice to an otherwise conventional fragrance.

_{Synthetics (Photo: Pexels)}

Traditionally, the raunchy notes in classical perfumery were of animalic origin. These scents are extremely expensive, complicated and exotic; ambergris, musk, civet, to name a few.

What is ambergris?

"Ambergris is a concretion from the sperm whale."

Ambergris is often described as one of the world's strangest natural occurrences. It is actually a concretion from the sperm whale and has been used for centuries, however for many years its origin remained a mystery.

The smell of ambergris is hard to describe because it varies according to the time spent on the sea and its origin. It releases of course heavy and powerful notes of animal scent, even musky. Your nose will be tickled by woody notes of tobacco, oriental spices or a seabed of seaweed.

_{Whale (Photo: Pexels)}

In perfumery, ambergris is very often used as fixer. It helps to improve the remanence of a fragrance, to make it last longer on your skin. Indeed, its persistent notes allow to set the most volatile ones. This is why we can find traces of it in many compositions. It is commonly associated with gourmand, warm or woody notes, and ingredients like vanilla, musk or patchouli. You understand why it is one of the essential raw materials of Oriental fragrances. It also fits perfectly with floral and spicy formulas. By giving them warm, deep and sensual facets, ambergris sublimates many perfumes.

Musk

"Musk is a brownish substance secreted by the male musk deer."

Expensive and exotic, musk, a brownish substance secreted by the male musk deer, is often used as a base note in fragrances for its ability to balance out the rest of the notes. Because of its sense of warmth and sensuality, many consider it to be an aphrodisiac. It’s usually found in sweet or woodsy, earthy scents, and tends to be appreciated by those with advanced fragrance palettes.

_{Deer (Photo: Pexels)}

Traditional musk is an animal byproduct from deer secretion. Because the scent is animalistic in nature, it has sensual undertones. These animals secreted a very strong odor, which made other animals sexually aroused, that's why for many, musk is the fragrance equivalent of sex appeal. It’s distinctive, pungent, sexy, and sensual.

Civet

"Civet is a crude, buttery-yellow paste in the form of fat, which those cats use to mark their territory."

Civet is a catlike animal with a long tail and a long, pointed muzzle like that of an otter. The animal produces secretions in the form of fat in its perianal region, which they use to mark their territory. Due to the difficult harvest of this fat, the price of the product was very high.

_{Civet (Photo: Flickr)}

Pure civet is a crude, buttery-yellow paste that turns darker with age. The smell of civet is very aggressive, it has a strong animal and fecal odor. It is treated with a volatile solvent and infused in alcohol. At full strength the tincture smells fecal and nauseating, but when diluted it has a radiant, velvety, floral scent. It gives great effects in perfumes, smoothing out rough patches, adding a sense of shimmer, diffusion, and warmth.

All these scents today have been replaced by their synthetic analogs for ethical reasons. However they play the same important role, warming up a composition and giving the perfumes a lush character. Chanel No 5, for example, wouldn’t be the marvel that it is without a cocktail of musks that lingers under the layer of champagne-like aldehydes, rose and jasmine.

When purchasing expensive perfume, you’ll want to know that you’re buying the real deal. Imitation perfumes are easily manufactured and can therefore be quite cheaper than the authentic ones. Yet, they ususally don’t have the same quality or scent, and on top of that they could even be harmful to your health. Understanding the 'tell tale' of fake perfumes can therefore help you make an informed choice.

_{Authentic or Counterfeit? (Photos: Unsplash)}

• KNOW THE SELLER.

"You have to know how an original looks and smells like. That way you'll be equipped for spotting the fakes right away. Educate yourself first hand, make sure you have an experience with the real deal."

Most counterfeit perfumes purchases can be avoided by going to a reputable seller or a well know establishment that purchases its stock from authorised distributors. Avoid flea markets at all cost, at least when it comes to perfumes. If you're walking down the street, and you see a vendor selling a fragrance out of his own pocket and for a really low price... We can quarantee, it's a fake.

If you are unfamiliar with the designer perfume you are planning to purchase, go to a department store and examine it first. Then order it off the Internet so you can compare it with the product you are thinking about buying.

• CHECK: THE PRICING.

"If the price is unusually low, it's probably for a reason. The rule "You get what you pay for.", usually applies."

If a designer fragrance seems too cheap, it's likely because it is a fake. Although this isn’t always indicative of quality of the perfume, if the price is too good to be true, then it probably is. Comparing your product's price to prices on the market helps to determine that. You can simply google the product and check if the pricing matches on one to two websites.

• CHECK: BOTTLE. PACKAGING. WRAPPING.

"Check if the bottle and packaging look flimsy or precise. The look itself tells a lot. It should look flawless."

You can spot an authentic perfume versus an imitation right off the bat just with the packaging!

Check for grammar, misspellings, poorly laid out info. Real packaging is made from high quality paperboard and their engraved texts should be clear and properly visible. Boxes made from thin, flimsy material are often counterfeit. Look for the bar code on the packaging. The bar code must be placed on the lowest back portion and not on the sides.

Lastly, legitimate perfumes typically have cellophane tightly wrapped around the box. If the plastic is loose or badly wrapped, to the point where it is moving around the box, it is a clear sign that you need to look for your perfume elsewhere. Also check to see if there is any excess glue or tape. Real perfume shouldn’t have any messy glue residue or extra tape inside or outside the container.

_{Perfume bottles (Photo: Unsplash)}

• CHECK: THE COLOR OF THE LIQUID. (IF YOU CAN).

"Look for any differences in color shade, color richness or transparency."

Another tell tale sign of a fake perfume is the color of the fragrance itself. Even a slight difference in color could mean that you're looking at a counterfeit. Authentic perfumes are manufactured carefully to the dot to make sure there's consistency in terms of quality, color, scent etc., regardless of how many are produced. They're known to be created with only the best quality ingredients that have gone through years of research.

• SMELL!

"Smell it if you can and see how it evolves in time- does it have a fragrance structure of base , middle and top notes?"

Counterfeit fragrances excel in mimicking an authetic perfume's smell, but that's about it. The scent could seem similar at first, but quality and longevity on a fake would be weaker than of an authentic perfume. Authentic perfumes will have 3 layers that unveil themselves over time, consisting of the top, middle and base notes. This complexity ensures that the scent is carried and multidimensional, allowing the scent to change from the initial application until complete skin absorption. Fake perfumes will only consist of a top layer, making them flat and often nonexistent shortly after the application.

_{Testing a fragrance (Photo: Unsplash)}

According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Gaile Robredo-Vitas, the main concern with using knock-off perfume is its unpredictability. Counterfeit perfumes don't have to pass manufacturing standards so you never really know what's in them, she explains. These products could contain poor quality, unregulated, and possibly toxic ingredients, which puts the user at risk of allergic reactions. In short, if you want to smell good on a budget, do your research and remeber: »If the price is too good to be true, it's unfortunately proabaly because it's a fake.«

Digital technology has transformed the way we live our lives and has also entered into this multi-millennia-long journey of cosmetics and beauty, tranforming it completely. Big beauty brands have increased investment and are adopting technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), to deliver high-quality and personalized experience.

_{Beauty and technology (Photo: Unsplash)}

WHAT IS »BEAUTY TECH«?

"Beauty tech is all about delivering high-quality and personalized experience with the help of latest technological advancements, such as Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality."

Powered by Artificial Intelligence and boosted by Augmented Reality, technology turns ideas into breakthrough products and unsurpassed consumer experience on multiple channels. Technology partners with Beauty to innovate and personalize for the future.

Although »beauty tech« dates back to the days of boxed computer programs (Cosmopolitan magazine put its name on »virtual makeover software« all the way back in 1998), it’s only recently that bigger brands have started to invest heavily in the space.

One of the firsts to go on this big, was cosmetics giant L’Oréal. In 2014 L’Oréal launched »Makeup Genius«, a virtual makeup mirror that worked on smartphones, and it become the first adoption of augmented reality in beauty to really go mainstream.

The interest has mainly been driven by advances in smartphone technology and the growing threat of independent, digitally native beauty brands, which have grown market shares by leveraging social media, influencer marketing and eco-friendly practices. To add to this, under Covid-19, lockdown and safety concerns over human contact have meant that this kind of disruptive tech has become the norm.

_{»Big data« (Photo: Pixabay)}

Primarily driven by Artificial Intelligence, there are now a number of apps and devices that can assess, monitor, and evaluate people’s skin, hair type etc. With this data, such devices can generate unique recommendations and treatments - which is the key intersection between beauty tech and personalization. 

TECHNOLOGY AND »THE FUTURE« OF PERSONAL CARE

"Technology is stepping in the beauty world to create safer, more efficient, effective and harmonious products for the users needs, preferences and their lifestyle."

The beauty shoppers know exactly what they want. That is why beauty technology is primarily driven by an increasing demand for personalisation and tailor-made formulas, products and services. The goal of the best Beauty Tech is all about individuals and about giving them the tools providing ultra personalization. By incorporating intelligent algorithms into their databases, brands can now analyze purchase patterns and consumer behavior to create safe, efficient, and effective products that are - most importantly - in demand.

It all starts as an algorithm - a computer’s version of a to-do list - to decipher exactly what their customers like and use, how they use them and how they can use them more effectively to benefit them.

Estimated to reach $805 billion (£651 billion) by 2023, the global wellness and cosmetics market has been injected with adopting the new technologies to be transforming the consumer experience, creating new opportunities for greater personalisation and tailor-made formulations.

_{Personalization (Photo: Unsplash)}

A PERSONALIZED PRESENT? First smart perfume in the world!

_{NINU smart perfume (Photo: Personal archive)}

"Gift your loved ones with a perfect present, that is as unique as them and fits them like a second skin! NINU- a perfume cut and sewn for every occasion."

NINU – a personalized perfume, for example is a perfume cut and sewn for every occasion. Ninu allows you to blend your own perfect perfume with the help of technology in the bottle, three different fragrance cartridges with basic scents and an AI assisted app. You can select between different suggestions and tweek them by their preferences till they find their perfect fusion that fits you best. As you will be using the app, the suggestions will become more and more in-tune with your preferences, needs and desires. Scents will become more of what you want and more of what you need in every day life - for all moods and occasions.

Smart and simple innovation with a pinch of fun and playfulness is a fresh breeze in the traditional perfume industry. It reimagines people's wellbeing, leveraging the latest technological advancements. It honours the tradition and builds on a millennia-old heritage to deliver the most advanced and unique perfume experience in the world!

Finding »the« perfect fragrance is a very hard and personal thing. Much like finding »the one« - our other half - to be spending the rest of our life with. And just like not every person is made for everyone, a fragrance that works wonders for someone else, may not work for you. So, how do you find your signature scent? In a department store full of classy and sparkling bottles, tempting you to try them out, how do you know what to sniff out and what to buy? Although it may be tempting to choose a perfume simply by its looks and price, below we offer you a simple guide to narrow the choice down.

_{Perfume shopping (photo: Pexels)}

What is the first thing I should know when buying »the one«? 

When searching for a signature scent, we would recommend thinking about three things:

"3 crucial Q's: What is my style?, What is my favourite scent?, What is the occasion?"

1. What is your everyday aesthetic? 

Are you sophisticated, bold, modern, boho, glam for example?

2. What kind of smells are you drawn to in everyday life? 

Do you love flowers, citrus, sweets, vanilla, musk, wood?

3. Think about the purpose of the fragrance.

Is it for every day, for evenings out, for special occasions, for work?

Take these three pieces of information to a fragrance expert in a perfume store, and they will be able to give recommendations based on this profile, or you can check out our »Choose your perfect »second skin« fragrance« blog, to help you identify which scents might suit you best.

Narrow it down.

"Focus on the one group, type or style of fragrance you're attracted to and discover the scent options it offers."

Once you’ve figured out which notes (floral, oriental, woody, or citrus) you like best and what occasion you want to wear it for, you can start exploring fragrances in your category. You’ll often find that you’re naturally drawn towards bottles of perfume from your preferred scent-family. For instance, lots of woody fragrances are in dark, moody-looking bottles that won’t appeal to someone who likes sophisticated, floral fragrances. Trust your eye and see where it takes you.  

Choose a concentration.

"Perfume- above 20% concentration, lasts 12h; Eau de parfum- 15- 20% concentration, lasts around 6h; Eau de toilette- concentration from 5 to 15%, lasts up to 4h;  Eau de cologne- below 5% concentration, only lasts about two hours."

Fragrances come in four different levels of concentration. As the concentration gets higher, the price and the perfume longetivity usually get higher as well.

1. The highest concentration is simply called perfume or parfum. This level usually will last all day with just one application to the wrists or pulse points. 
2. The next lower level is eau de parfum, which typically can last about six hours after application. 
3. The third level is called eau de toilette and is usually fairly affordable and easy to find in retail stores. It typically requires more than one application throughout the day to get it to last. 
4. The fourth and lowest fragrance concentration is eau de cologne, which only lasts about two hours.

_{Perfume samples (photo: Unsplash)}

Explore the samples.

Before you decide to purchase any fragrance, you should definitely do a few simple tests to make sure that it is something you will really want to wear and that you will love. Once you have sniffed a few different scents, choose three that you like most. Using the sample cards that are on display in the store, spray a small amount onto each tab. Ensuring to keep them separated at all times. Over the next few hours, smell each sample from time to time. You’ll see how to the fragrance develops and how it fades over time.

Test the fragrance out.

Never commit to purchasing a perfume unless you’ve worn it for at least eight hours. Only try two fragrances at a time, spray one on each wrist and periodically smell them throughout the day to see how they settle on your skin and how the notes wear out by the end of the day. Then, you should have a fairly solid preference of which one to choose.

Live with it!

If you’re quite sure you’ve got a winner, do one last skin test. Return to the mall and spritz »the fragrance« on your pulse points - the neck, the wrists, the inner elbows. Wait a minimum of 30 minutes after spraying it on (run some errands during this time), before taking a final, definitive sniff. In this time, the top notes will evaporate, and the rest of the notes will mix with your skin oils and natural scent, giving you a better idea of how it’ll live on your skin.

If you still love it by the end of all that, then congrats! You finally found »the one« or, at the very least, a new perfume you like enough to wear on some occasions. May you two live happily ever after.

A great fragrance has the power to make you feel great! However according to research, fragrance can move us in many different ways; from taking us back to some bitter-sweet memories to relaxing us down or boosting our energy. So, what perfume notes to go for when you're in the mood for a vibe switch?

_{Moods (Photos: Unsplash)}

Feeling stressed?

"Reach for vanilla, sandalwood, jasmine or lavander."

Look for warmer and relaxing scents, with enveloping notes like vanilla, sandalwood, jasmine and lavender. A more subtle notes are what you need, if you're looking for some time to relax.

_{Stress (Photo: Unsplash)}

Need a confidence boost?

"Reach for earthy tones or florals with a dash of cinnamon and woody notes."

A spritz of fragrance can work wonders to your personality. Your confidence can be boosted by simply knowing that you smell good. But if you're in doubt of what to try, floral fragrances such as rose, with spices like cinnamon and woody notes as well as fougere notes that are earthy and rich, are our advice for you to try.

_{Confidence (Photo: Pexels)}

In the mood for being sensual?

"Scent yourself with sensual spices like vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and saffron or reach for ambery notes, rich roses and powdery iris."

Look for sensual spices like vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron, ambery notes and florals like rich roses and powdery iris. Yes, we know scent is subjective, however there is proof that notes like these can cause a biochemical response and  arousal in both men and women.

_{Being sensual (Photo: Pexels)}

Feeling tired?

"Go for citrusy notes such as lemon, orange and grapefruit or reach for herbs like rosemary, basil and peppermint."

Scents like lemon, orange, rosemary, basil and peppermint are known to help improve concentration and boost brain performance, so fragrances rich with them, can help you stay focused on your tasks and lift up your energy level.

_{Tired (Photo: Pexels)}

Need a splash of happiness?

"An orange blossom, lemon, bergamot, orange, grapefruit and mandarin with a dab of sea or rain scent are most likely what you need."

Fresh, uplifting, zesty and summery notes like orange blossom, lemon, bergamot, orange, grapefruit and mandarin with a dab  of the sea scent or rain is what you need! Because of their light, uplifting and summery personality, they are a perfect splash of sunshine to make your day a little brighter.

_{Happy (Photo: Pexels)}

Be a boss!

"Reach for airy scents like Vetiver, Sandalwood, Oakmoss and Pine, infused with citrusy notes."

Centered on aromatic woods and herbs and built on base notes of Vetiver, Sandalwood, Oakmoss and Pine, and infused with citrusy notes to tone down the intensity and impart a hint of freshness, fragrances like these can be very rich, yet airy and soft at the same time. This allows them to be the perfect fragrance for an important business meeting, where you need to present yourself as a well put-together boss.

_{Boss (Photo: Pexels)}

Perfume making and sniffing countless different fragrances takes us on paths that we sometimes discover for the very first time. And like all the first times, it can be difficult to fully understand them. But you don't have to be a world class perfumer to perfect your sense of smell. The never-boring world of scents is just waiting for you to open your nostrils, and feel all the amazing feels olfactory culture has to offer. 

Keep an open mind

Present every step of the way and usually very well-known, smells are everywhere,  that's why we don't necessarily pay attention to them all. However, throughout our days, our sense of smell is constantly solicited by all the ambient scents and it is not that hard to improve our olfactory sensitivity if we want and try to.

Make the decision

To improve your sense of smell you do not have to follow a perfumer training. You can build and perfect your own olfactory sensibility by yourself, with time, motivation and decication. If you're reading this blog, it means that your mind is at the right place, and now all you have to do, is keep on going.

Be curious 

To train your sense of smell, nothing is better than visiting different perfume stores or drugmarkets to discover the fragrances which contain countless different scents. Feel free to smell all kinds of fragrances and be curious to discover all of the 7 olfactory families. See how the florals are sophisticatedly structured, get to know all of the sensual orientals, and discover in which fragrances we find all the fresh and aromatic notes. Try to identify the ingredients that catch your attention the most and find more perfumes that highlight them. 

Based on the fragrance pyramid (we've talked about it in one of our previous blogs), try to find its top, middle and base notes - take in and feel each one of them individually.

 Let your nose and curiosity take the lead and discover the endless possibilities of olfactory culture.

Sniff!

Once informed abou the basics, your nose can take action! There are numerous exercises that can help you improve your olfactory sensibility. You can start your nose training by guessing the smells of some very basic raw materials such as vanilla, rose, lime and mint for example. Smell them individually with your eyes closed, breathe in calmly and retain their scents. 

To help you memorize their scents, you can try to associate them with some specific memories. Keep on going by choosing tougher ingredients with time. 

Happy sniffing! 

Perfume dates back to the ancient history and has had an interesting and glorious sweet-smelling past. The word itself is Latin and derives from per meaning through and fumun or smoke. Perfumes were originally meant to emulate nature's pleasant aromas. Natural oils were extracted from plants, pressed, steamed and then burned in order to scent the surrounding air.

Since then the scientific process of making perfume has not only evolved, but it's been refined and improved. In modern times, many years after the first crafted scent was produced, the art of perfume manufacturing has become a global industry. Today we use all sorts of scented items daily. Soaps, lotions, candles, air-fresheners, cleaning products and, of course, personal fragrances and perfumes.

To give you a better idea of how perfume is made, we'll briefly explain the processes of modern perfume-manufacturing. You might be surprised how much work goes into making all these sweet-smelling fragrances.

Ingredients:

Before the manufacturing process can begin, the manufacturer must gather many raw ingredients. These ingredients can include various plants, fruits, woods, grasses, flowers and even animal secretions like musk and civet. Other resources like alcohol, petrochemicals, coal and tars can be used during the manufacturing process. 

For scents that don't occur in nature, do not produce essential oils, or are endangered, synthetic chemicals are used to emulate the scent. Many popular and hard to find scents fall into this category, that is why many perfumes often inlude at least some synthetic scents.

The Creative Process Of Developing A Scent:

The process of perfume creation has only just begun after the essential oils were extracted and collected. They are then masterfully blended according to a specific formula. It can take years and hundreds of ingredients before they come to the desired formula. After the scent is finally created, it is then mixed with varying amounts of alcohol. The amount of alcohol that's added determines whether the liquid will be a cologne, perfume, or eau de toilette.

Aging:

After all the ingrediens are mixed the aging process can begin. High quality perfumes are usually aged for months or potentially even years after the scent has been blended. This is done to ensure that the proper scent has been created. It is a time in which the perfume is kept still in a cool, dark area. This allows that the alcohol and the essential oils fully bled together.

The end product:

The end product – the perfume, is made up of top notes - the scents that you detect first after spraying a perfume, heart notes – which serve as a buffer for the base notes, and may not smell as pleasant on their own, as well as base notes –  which create an enduring fragrance.