You've probably often wondered why a perfume smells different depending on who is wearing it, or whether its durability depends on how strong it is.
Much has been written about perfumery, but sometimes it is hard to distinguish fact from fiction. We debunk some false myths about perfumes and their application.
10 false myths about perfumes
1.- The stronger a perfume is, the longer it lasts on the skin.
This statement is false. The durability of a perfume on the skin does not depend on how strong or intense its fragrance is, but on the sum of different factors, such as the type of skin (the drier the skin, the less the perfume is retained), the climate, the percentage of concentration of the perfume and the composition of the perfume (the more base notes it has, the longer it will last).
If you apply a lot of perfume, it will last longer.
The duration of a perfume is related to its composition and ingredients, as the perfumer composes the fragrance thinking about how it will evolve over time. Therefore, if we want the perfume to last for many hours, we should not use too much perfume, as the result can be overwhelming and can be displeasing to the people around us. We recommend that you apply the perfume again throughout the day in a subtle way to revive its presence without overdoing it.
3.- Use perfume to hide a bad smell.
Never use perfume to cover up an unpleasant body odour. The result can be even worse… Fragrances are designed to enhance our body odour, always based on proper hygiene. What's more, if you spray a perfume on your skin after a hot shower or bath and apply body lotion, its scent will linger longer and you will be able to enjoy its pleasant fragrance for longer. Smelling good also makes you feel better and even helps to boost your self-esteem.
4.- Rubbing the wrists helps to fix the perfume.
This is not true. Perfume is often applied to the wrist area because it is a pulse point and emits more heat, but rubbing your wrists together does not help the fragrance to set. It is not true that it destroys the perfume molecules, but it can help the perfume to dissipate more quickly.
5.- It smells different to me.
This statement is true. The pH of each person's skin transforms the perfume when it is applied, as we all have a characteristic body odour. This is a circumstance that means that a perfume has as many versions as the skin on which it is applied, but it can also be frustrating when you like a fragrance and it doesn't smell as you expected when you tried it.
6.- The more expensive a perfume is, the better.
This answer needs to be qualified, since the price of a perfume can respond to its quality, but, in addition to the quality of its ingredients, other aspects come into play such as the design of its bottle or the brand and the perfumer who created it. It is important that the raw material is of good quality, an essential requirement in niche perfumery, but part of the magic of a perfume lies in all the intangible values with which we associate it.
In addition to its quality, and regardless of the price, you should take into account how the perfume feels on your skin - since, as we have explained, due to the pH, perfume evolves differently on each skin - and, from there, decide whether it suits your personal preferences.
We debunk some common myths about perfume and its application.
Perfume goes out of fashion.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Although in perfumery there are trends that set trends over time, as happens in fashion, there are classics that remain as valid as the first day as Cologne, by Acqua di Parma, since 1916, or Nº5, by Chanel, since 1921.
8.- Perfumes for women and perfumes for men.
The eternal discussion about whether perfumes have a gender will get you nowhere… In fact, fragrances do not necessarily have to be associated with a specific gender; what happens is that the use we make of them has a strong historical, cultural and social component and, by tradition, there are cultures that associate certain ingredients with the female or male gender. And this is not the same in all societies. For example, in the West, flowers are more associated with women's fragrances, but in the East, they are also found in compositions used by men. And although marketing has created indelible associations with brands and fragrances, personal tastes must always come before the dictates of fashion.
Have you noticed that there are more and more unisex perfumes? This is a vindication of perfumery - especially signature perfumery - to make the point that fragrances have no gender.
9.- Natural perfumes are better than synthetic ones.
Put the brakes on. Natural is not always synonymous with better, healthier or even more ecological. First of all, to enjoy a perfume with maximum quality, persistence and stability, you must take into account that synthetic molecules are essential in modern perfumery to enjoy perfume as we know it today. If only natural ingredients were used in fragrance formulas, they would be much flatter, without so many nuances.
On the other hand, if you are concerned about the safety of synthetic ingredients or their impact on the environment, all fragrances offered for sale in official and authorised establishments comply with stringent health and safety regulations. You should also be aware that the perfume industry is one of the most innovative sectors and is fully committed to reducing its footprint and preserving ecosystems. Green chemistry is making great strides, turning the alternatives produced in the laboratory into eco-friendly alternatives to the overexploitation of raw materials.
Perfume does not expire.
Because of its high alcohol content, which acts as a preservative, it is difficult to determine the expiry date of a perfume. Like much of what surrounds perfumery, there are no strict rules. Of course, if you keep a perfume for years, you may notice changes in its colour and even smell. All fragrances change over time and you should bear in mind that perfume does not improve with age, as wine does. So make the most of your fragrances when you buy them.
Perfumers and perfume experts recommend keeping perfume in its original packaging, in a cool, dry place and away from sunlight.
What about fragrances that you use at specific times of the year and leave them unused for a few months? Generally, perfumes will keep their exceptional quality for at least two years. But if there are perfumes that you use only during the summer or winter months and you stop using them for a while, we recommend that you spray them into the air three times to release any fragrance that may have been stored in the pump of the dispenser. Afterwards, perfume yourself as you usually do and enjoy the fragrance.