Tapputi was the OG perfumer from 1200 BCE, rocking her ancient lab in Mesopotamia. Meanwhile, the Egyptians were bottling their scents 3,000 years ago. Perfume’s history is pretty incredible!
So, you’re into perfumes? We all are! If you think of yourself as a bit of a collector, check out these cool perfume facts. They’ll help make your next shopping trip a whole lot easier!
Ever wondered where the word "perfume" comes from? It’s Latin for per fumum, which means "through smoke." About 2,500 years ago, Romans and Arabs were already perfecting perfume. Emperor Nero would even have rose and jasmine oils flowing through fountains at his parties. And the tradition of Bakhoor, burning incense and precious woods to scent your space, is still going strong today.
Perfume is usually sprayed on your wrists and neck because these areas are warmer, helping the scent to spread and last longer. So, don’t just drown yourself in your favourite fragrance; applying it correctly makes all the difference!
Want your perfume to last all day? Start with a good layer of lotion! Moisturised skin holds onto fragrance better, making sure you smell great from morning till night. So, before you spritz, give your skin some love!
How often do you see people rubbing their wrists together after spritzing perfume? It's a common move, but it's actually a bad idea! Rubbing can mess with the perfume's layers—top, heart, and base notes—since it speeds up how the scent interacts with your skin's oils. Instead, let the fragrance settle naturally for the best smell.
Ever noticed how a perfume smells different as the day goes on? That’s because of the perfume’s top, heart, and base notes. Perfumes are complex, with each layer revealing itself over time. Top notes are the first you smell but fade quickly. Heart notes, which are often herbal, floral, or spicy, last a bit longer. Finally, base notes—like wood, amber, and musk—linger the longest, giving your scent its lasting character.
When you spray perfume, it mixes with your skin’s natural chemistry, which can change how it smells. Things like sweat, the environment, and even what you eat can affect your fragrance, making it smell different on you compared to someone else. It’s all about the science of scent!
Perfume can change over time, so it's best to use it within 3 to 5 years after opening. Once exposed to air, it starts to evolve, and after a few years, it might not smell as intended. Generally, perfumes with higher concentrations and heavier base notes (like oriental scents) tend to last longer, both in the bottle and on your skin.
Perfume types vary based on their concentration of pure fragrance oil. Eau de Toilette has about 10% concentration, Eau de Parfum is around 15%, and Parfum has over 20%. Generally, the higher the concentration, the longer the scent lasts. So, a perfume can stay on your skin for 8–12 hours, while an eau de parfum typically lasts around six hours.
Here’s a little bonus for you: perfume doesn’t have to follow gender norms! Whether you love a sweet floral or a deep woody scent, it’s all about what you enjoy. So, go ahead and mix up your fragrance game. Now you’re all set to make your scent last longer and smell amazing!
