Facts and myths about perfumes

Why are fragrances best tested by 2pm? Is the bathroom the best place for perfume? Find out more facts and myths about perfumes.

The time of day influences how we perceive fragrances

Yes. So if we are planning to test a perfume and choose a fragrance, it is best to do it by 2 p.m. In the morning and early afternoon, our sense of smell is not yet tired. It is also the most sensitive and it is easier for us to sense individual fragrance notes. This is also when we are most 'open' to scents and are least bothered by them.

 

If I like a perfume after the first sniff it means it is the fragrance for me

Not necessarily. Remember that a perfume is made up of head, heart and depth (base) notes, which are released at different times. For the first ten minutes or so, you feel the head notes. Once these have evaporated, it's time for the heart notes, which can be felt for most of the day. And at the very end come the aromas found in the depth (base) notes. So when you first smell it, you only sense the first notes of the fragrance. That's why it's a good idea to wait at least 30 minutes when testing a new perfume. Ideally, apply it to the skin and "walk" with it for a few hours. Then you can experience the fullness of the fragrance and check how the perfume works on your skin and how it develops over the course of the day.

 

The bathroom is a good place to store perfume

No. In this room we have to deal with many fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and this is most damaging to perfumes. Such unstable conditions affect their quality and longevity. It is best to store them away from sunlight, at a stable temperature and humidity.

 

To find out what a perfume smells like, all you have to do is sniff the cork of the flacon

No. By sniffing the cork of the perfume bottle, you will sense the base notes, which are the most persistent notes that appear the latest. Therefore, you will not feel the head notes, which open the fragrance, and the heart notes. Sniffing the cork will only tell you how the fragrance ends, but not how it begins or how it develops.