Perfume Family

Did you know that perfume can be categorized according to their fragrance family? Understanding fragrance families can help your perfume shopping much easier and the most important is you are not disappointed with wrong picks. It may help you to identify the perfume suitable for your friends, spouse and/or family. Let say your spouse love the smell after rain where it smells like the fresh grass, then green perfume family is suitable for him/her, while if he/she loves to smell fresh like in the jungle, then woody is suitable. Some perfumes scent may mixed with one or more family.
Spend a litlle bit time to read this article, you will find it valuable for your perfume buying experience...

FLORAL

This fragrance group is associated with essences of white flowers and fresh linens. This is one of the first perfume categories. It also remains extremely popular especially for womens perfume. They tend to have a distinctive feminine quality. Although a number of fragrances of floral are appearing in mens cologne. Perfumers tend to do a alot of experimentation with florals. They really do combine wonderfully with water or fresh green categories. Since the mid 90's its been the trend to make the fragrance sweeter with hints of fruit. Ideal for young and not-so-young alike. Anyone who wants to feel pretty and feminine without being overpowering should choose a floral perfume. Likewise, they're great as a safe perfume that's suitable for all ages and all occasions.

Some perfumes under this family : Burberry London by Burberry | J'Adore By Christian Dior | Ralph by Ralph Lauren | Incanto Charms by Salvatore Ferragamo | Chanel No 19 By Chanel | CKIN2U by Calvin Klein | Parfum D'Ete By Kenzo | Sunflowers By Elizabeth Arden | Anais Anais by Cacharel | L'Air du Temps by Nina Ricci | Charlie by Revlon | Eternity by Calvin Klein

*Subcategories of this perfume family :  fruity floral (ie. Escape by Calvin Klein) | fresh floral (ie. Eau D'Issey by Issey Miyake)  | green floral (ie. Fidji by Guy Laroche) | woody floral (ie. White Linen by Estee Lauder) | sweet floral (ie. Blue Grass by Elizabeth Arden).

ORIENTAL

These are exotic, sensual, and extremely "heavy" fragrances. Also sometimes referred as "Amber'. Think of these as containing exotic flowers, foreign resins, vanilla, spicy amber, and musk. Often mixed with fruit fragrances and additional "fresh" scents from the green group. They have a heavy sweetnes from sandlewood, musk and vanilla. Most oriental perfumes have a wonderful crossing over of qualities from all the other categories from the spicy fruit tones to warm woody tones and this makes them a superb choice for corporate environments, evening events and special occasions, regardless of age.

Some perfumes under this family :  Obsession by Calvin Klein | Dior Addict by Christion Dior | Classic by Burberry | Sensi by Giorgio Armani | Joop Femme by Joop! | Tresor by Lancome

*Subcategories of this perfume family : Florientals (ie. Panthere by Cartier) | Spicy Orientals (ie. Angel by Thiery Mugler) | Fruity Florientals (ie. Poison by Christian Dior) | Fruity Orientals (ie. Moshino by Moschino)

WOODY

Best mixed with other fragrances. Oriental woody is a combination of oriental smells mixed with something like a sandalwood to give it a woody hint.Drier, vetiver, cedar, oakmoss, leather, tobacco, burnt wood etc. Mixes well with citrus and fresh aromatic notes. Woody perfumes are versatile and easy to wear, and are better suited to the mature woman who wants to smell fresh but retain an air of sophistication. This type of perfume works well for any season.


Some perfumes under this family :  212 by Carolina Herrera | Organza by Givenchy | Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker | Burberry Touch by Burberry | CK Be by Calvin Klein | Versace Women by Versace | Gucci Rush by Gucci


FRUITY

Fruity fragrances are generally spicy and fresh. They are quite youthful in their scent, and suitable for warm and cool weather alike. In winter, they invoke a sense of warm desserts and cider. In summer, they give an air of crispness. They are an excellent choice for women who like classic fragrances, but also want to add a little flair. If you're the type to be outside with friends on summer evenings, this is the perfume type for you.

Some perfumes under this family : Lauren by Ralph Lauren | Liz Claiborn by Liz Claiborn | Be Delicious by DKNY | Chic by Moschino | Bvlgari Pour Homme by Bvlgari

CITRUS

This type of scent works well on both men and women. Citrus fragrances for men are often blended with wood and spices. For the ladies, it is blended with florals or fruits. This type of fragrance is often sporty, fresh, and perfect for work.

Some perfumes under this family : Azzaro Chrome by Loris Azzaro | CK One by Calvin Klein | Armani by Giorgio Armani | Lacoste Pour Homme by Lacoste

GREEN

Where woody perfumes capture the essence of forests and woodland, green perfumes have tones more reminiscent of cut grass and crisp spring growth. They possess some of the same scents as oriental perfumes, but are far lighter and suitable for casual wear as well as evening and business wear. They are generally funky and contemporary perfumes that are most suitable for younger and sportier people and can be worn on all occasions. Their neutral tones make them excellent for gifts.

Some perfumes under this family : Charlie by Revlon | True Star by Tommy Hilfiger | Hugo Boss by Hugo Boss | Euphoria Men by Calvin Klein | Fleur Du Male by Jean Paul Gaultier | Burberry London by Burberry | CK Truth by Calvin Klein | Style in Play by Lacoste | Diorissimo by Christian Dior.

AQUA / MARINE

Both men and women can enjoy this light, refreshing water scent perfect for wearing during warm weather. Contains fragrances such as sea air, fresh water plants, and of course water.  It may be blended with notes of citrus and greens for an energetic and youthful scent to wear by day.

Some perfumes under this family : Charlie by Revlon | True Star by Tommy Hilfiger | Hugo Boss by Hugo Boss | Euphoria Men by Calvin Klein

[Source: jueperfume.com]

View the original article here

Read More......

Your Perfume bottle can be worth money!

Perfumes have been a very important part of culture and religion since ancient times. Not only were the perfumes valuable but so were the bottles that held them. The oldest known perfume bottles came from the Ancient Egyptians. They used containers made of stone and alabaster which kept the perfume cool and did not leak the precious liquids. Many perfume containers have been found in tombs around the globe. Scents and perfume were an important part of the Egyptians preparation of the dead.

Some glass bottles date back to the fifteenth century BC. The glass perfume bottles adorned the homes of the noble and wealthy. While early scents were designed to ward off bad spirits, grace the gods and disguise body odors, the bottles were a true symbol of luxury. In Greek and Roman times, scent bottle designs became increasingly more sophisticated, even imitating the shapes of birds, humans and other animals.

Perfume bottles found in Palestine were made of glass, and had narrow long necks. They were primarily found in tombs. They believed the perfume bottles would cover the smell of the dead bodies.

The Ancient Greeks made beautiful containers for perfume. They hand painted vases which were often shaped as animals. They used lidded bowls for holding less expensive perfumes.

The Roman’s used hollowed-out precious stones to carry their most valuable perfumes before the introduction of glass bottles.

Glass blowing techniques had been developed in Syria. This was a huge advancement in bottle construction industry. Expensive Roman scent bottles created from transparent glass adorned with coloured decorations were widely acclaimed.

Today the trading of unusual, limited editions and ancient perfume bottles has become big business. Their books and material on how, when to be collecting the perfume bottles, conventions, places to sell and buy the perfume bottles. This usually happens at auctions, exhibitions and collectors markets where dealers and appraisers are presents for evaluations of the precious bottles.

[Source: myperfume.com.au]

View the original article here

Read More......

Perfume and Memory: Holding Back the Darkness

One of the most oft-repeated truisms about the sense of smell is how it triggers memories, even those that have long been buried in the past. It applies to every kind of smell of course, but certain things seem to have a more profound effect on people; favorite foods from childhood, the sweet scent of a wedding bouquet, the chalk and ink of a classroom, and of course perfume. Often it's not even our own but that of another that evokes strong emotions; a simple floral cologne favored by a loving grandmother, a husband's bay rum aftershave on his cheek in the morning, the fascinating waft of powder, lipstick and Evening in Paris from a mother's evening purse when she is getting ready for a rare night out on the town. All these things form part of the home movies of our lives, but our fifth sense does not get much respect in our culture so these scent memories are frequently dismissed as sentimental trifles by those who don't understand the effect that scent can have on our lives.

I recently read something that moved me greatly and reminded me yet again of what our olfactory powers can do for us. It is the true story of a career soldier getting ready to go overseas yet again for a long deployment to a war zone, and how he must decide what to take with him. There are those things that are essential for survival itself, the ones he takes because he knows they will be in short supply where he is going, and finally those little luxuries about which hard choices must be made since there is only so much space in a duffel bag, even though these trifles are what keep you connected to your sanity. One precious item is never left behind, however:

“And then finally there is just a plastic baggy with two cotton balls inside. This is your life raft.

The cotton is soaked in your wife’s perfume. It is reserved for the worst days. The days when you need to hold other people up, and yet you do not know where you will draw the strength yourself. The days when grown men cry, and feel that there is no point, and they need somebody to provide a pillar that they can use to pull themselves to their feet again, and it has got to be you, regardless of if you are ready or not, to hold them up, but you are so f**king tired, and worn, and drowning yourself...then, well, then is when these two little balls of cotton come into play. They are your emergency supply of willpower, to be used sparingly, stingily, hoarded, just in case, for those bad days. The perfume is too strong right now, but you know that over a year, it will fade until there is barely more than a memory wafting from that bag. But sometimes, that slightest scent, it is enough. To hold you, and others, up.

And then you are done. There is no more room, nothing more to pack and the only thing remaining is a very long flight to a very foreign land.”

I read this with tears in my eyes, both for the unspeakable burden of what we who stay behind ask of our soldiers and for the connections so tenuously kept alive over a long separation, when the idea of “home” is a vision in danger of fading away altogether as it is overtaken by the reality of war and the exhaustion, terror and boredom of life in a battle zone, not to mention the awful, unbearable smells of violence and fear that come with the territory. That just a little bit of perfume could mean so much to a man that it's the most important thing he packs in his bag is yet another reminder that we should not take our sense of smell lightly; I for one cannot imagine what it would be like to lose it. I wonder if this man felt overpowered by his own feelings as he wrote those words, thinking of what it would be like to have only the scent of his beloved for remembrance, and for such a long time.

So, dear readers, what one perfume would you take to war, or into space, or on a long voyage where you had to make those hard decisions about what to keep? What would you bring with you to be your magical amulet of last resort when life becomes dangerous, or exhausting, or unbearably lonely? It doesn't even have to be a physical destination, since we carry life's tribulations around with us; it can be the perfume we reach for in our darkest hour, no matter where we are. Which one has the most memories and associations encoded in your subconscious? My own would be Jean Patou's Vacances, not only because of its great beauty but because it reminds me of a time in my life when I was happy and had just begun the journey of discovering how much I truly loved perfume. It is the essence of longing, of yearning for spring and for a love just out of reach, but also the joy of celebrating new life, with its dewy green grass and tender clouds of lilac, hyacinth and mimosa. It breaks my heart and lifts me up at the same time. The perfumes that are the greatest works of art are so often those which are also the most evocative, both of one's own store of memories and also creating emotions we didn't even know we had inside us until the moment we first smelled them. Which fragrance can do that for you?

[Source: perfumesmellinthings]

View the original article here

Read More......