How to Understand the Four Elements of Perfumes
Perfumes are made up of essential oils that are blended together to create unique fragrances. Every perfume has four elements to its fragrance, and understanding those elements can help you choose the right perfume for you. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Learn what the four elements of perfume are: the top note, middle note, base note and bridge. These elements unfold as the perfume is worn.
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Smell the top note to see if you like it. The top note is the first impression of a fragrance. It becomes evident in the first 5 minutes after applying the perfume to your skin. To judge the top note of a new fragrance, apply it to your inner arm and wait two to three minutes before smelling it.
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Wait half an hour to judge the middle note of a new fragrance, also called the "heart note." This develops about 30 minutes after you apply the perfume, as your body warms it and the scent begins to mix with your own chemicals. To judge the middle note, simply wait about half an hour after applying a perfume and then sniff it again to see if you still like it.
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Judge the base note of a new fragrance after 2 or more hours. The base note of a fragrance takes the longest to develop and is the longest lasting. It's often not evident until about 2 hours after you apply the perfume, but it can last up to 8 hours. The base note can change depending on your physical activity, the weather and the humidity. To be sure that you really like a perfume, take a sample home with you and wear it for a few days to get a real sense of the base note at the end of each day.
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Appreciate the bridge, also known as the "fixative." It is one or two essential oils that remain present through all three phases of the perfume's development. The bridge serves to tie all the scents together with a common underlying scent.
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Tips & Warnings
When you're looking for a new perfume, ask the consultant at the perfume counter to make you a small sample so that you can take it home and judge if you really like it. The only way to be certain that a fragrance is one that you'll like is to wear it over the course of a day or two during your normal activities.
