Wendy's blog
Applying perfume the right way
Thu, 03/31/2011 - 13:03 | Wendy
If you're like most people who wear fragrance, you probably spray a little on your neck, spritz some on one wrist, rub it on your other wrist and call it a day. Did you know there is a correct way to apply your fragrance, though? 
Britney Spears perfume line at center of lawsuit
Thu, 03/31/2011 - 11:33 | Wendy
Britney Spears and her father, Jamie, are in hot water with the licensing firm that helped the pop diva launch her famous Britney Spears perfume line. Brand Sense Partners is suing Spears for $10 million alleging breach of contract. The company claims they did not receive a 35 percent commission for brokering the deal between Spears and Elizabeth Arden.
Fragrance Foundation announces 2011 FiFi finalists
Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:49 | Wendy
The Fragrance Foundation has announced its top 10 FiFi finalists for 2011. This year was a little different than past years' awards given an online voting procedure. The top 10 will be widdled to five in April. The annual FiFi Awards, known as the "Oscars" of the fragrance industry, takes place May 25 at New York's Lincoln Center.
What are top notes, heart notes and base notes? Fragrance notes explained.
Tue, 03/29/2011 - 15:07 | Wendy
Much like musical notes make up a song and various shades of colors turn into a painting, fragrance notes are necessary to make a perfume. Overall, there are three note scales that when blended together create the perfume's fragrant accord. Each of these levels, however, has its own primary purpose.
Defining the fragrance families
Tue, 03/29/2011 - 14:50 | Wendy
Assigning order to things helps us to avoid chaos. And so it is with fragrance. Like all of us, fragrances can be broken down into their own categories or family trees. Instead of sharing a blood line, however, fragrances may share notes, accords or other characteristics that define their overall similarities.Omega 3 works miracles on skin
Mon, 03/28/2011 - 11:11 | Wendy
Omega 3 is a miracle substance for your skin! You can get Omega 3 naturally from eating fish, but if fish isn’t your thing, try getting your fix of from essential oils or skincare products (Philosophy and Ultima). Omega 3 is a fatty acid that can help to alleviate dry skin, eczema and dermatitis, as well as firm the skin to prevent wrinkles and sagging.
Former WWE girl Maria Kanellis launches signature perfume line
Mon, 03/28/2011 - 10:35 | Wendy
Maria Kanellis, former WWE diva, has announced her signature perfume line. The rub-on fragrances come in three distinct aromas, including sandalwood, mimosa and ylang-ylang. You may also remember Kanellis as a former Playboy cover model or cast member on "Celebrity Apprentice." The fragrances are available for $11.95.
Sylvester Stallone launching fashion, fragrance line
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 11:57 | Wendy
Oh, Sly. Your silk boxing shorts and gray sweatsuit were such an inspiration to us all in the "Rocky" movies. We are thrilled to hear the news that you will be launching a new Sylvester Stallone fashion line, complete with all the accessories -- including fragrance!
How to make perfume
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 15:09 | Wendy
"But it's all a matter of taste, you say. It's true that among the perfumes reckoned good or great, there are some that will move you more than others, and some that will leave you entirely cold or even sickened, because either they won't say what you're longing to hear or they say what you never want to hear again. All the same, when considering perfume as an art, it's possible to appreciate when something is done exceptionally well." -- Tania Sanchez, scent addict and co-author of "Perfumes: The A-Z Guide."
It may seem as simple as blending a few essential oils with water and alcohol, but the true art of creating a lasting -- and phenomenol -- scent is much more than that. It is indeed a science, one defined by the usual logistics of mixing ingredients in a laboratory, but if done well the perfume becomes less about the science and more about the creative synergy of the notes.
Perfume has been around for thousands of years. Frankly, the history of making perfume is less interesting than the fact that new fragrance notes are still being created everyday -- from plants, trees, herbs, spices; notes inspired by water, air, metal, earth and even burnt rubber.
The fragrance notes we find in perfume get more unique as time goes on. And, with advanced technology, we are able to manipulate more and more of the elements to create scents to our liking.
How to Make Perfume with Essential Oils
The Egyptians began mixing perfume centuries ago. Essential oils are mixed with water and/or alcohol at varying concentrations to make the perfume. (See our article on the difference between eau de toilette, eau de parfum and perfume for more on concentrations.) These essential oils are extracted from plants, herbs and spices like cedarwood, lavender and cinnamon.
Essential oils are extracted from plants one of two ways – either by steam distillation or expression, also called pressing. Distillation is the most prominent method used to extract aromatherapy oils, however. This technique involves steaming the plant matter until it breaks down. The byproduct of this breakdown phase is the plant’s fragrant oil, which is cooled, separated from the water and finally filtered into its pure essential oil.
Synthetic Perfumes from Aroma Chemicals
Chanel No. 5 was the first man-made, or synthetic, perfume created. A synthetic perfume is made using organic compounds that create alcohol when reduced. Synthetic oils are artificially produced to mimic natural odors. Common aroma chemicals include benzyl acetate, ethanol and limonene. Oftentimes aroma chemicals last longer and are stronger than those that occur naturally.
Essential and synthetic oils can be blended together to create different scents. These oils are divided into top, middle and base notes. The top notes are the fragrance notes you smell as soon as the perfume is sprayed. The middle notes come second, followed by the longest lasting of the three, the base notes. Base notes are often heartier essential oils, like cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla, amber and patchouli.
Once the essential oils are blended, they are diluted with water and/or alcohol to lessen their concentration. Then there is a waiting period; anywhere from 48 hours to several weeks depending on the strength desire of the perfume.
It may seem as simple as blending a few essential oils with water and alcohol, but the true art of creating a lasting -- and phenomenol -- scent is much more than that. It is indeed a science, one defined by the usual logistics of mixing ingredients in a laboratory, but if done well the perfume becomes less about the science and more about the creative synergy of the notes.
Perfume has been around for thousands of years. Frankly, the history of making perfume is less interesting than the fact that new fragrance notes are still being created everyday -- from plants, trees, herbs, spices; notes inspired by water, air, metal, earth and even burnt rubber.
The fragrance notes we find in perfume get more unique as time goes on. And, with advanced technology, we are able to manipulate more and more of the elements to create scents to our liking.
How to Make Perfume with Essential Oils
The Egyptians began mixing perfume centuries ago. Essential oils are mixed with water and/or alcohol at varying concentrations to make the perfume. (See our article on the difference between eau de toilette, eau de parfum and perfume for more on concentrations.) These essential oils are extracted from plants, herbs and spices like cedarwood, lavender and cinnamon.
Essential oils are extracted from plants one of two ways – either by steam distillation or expression, also called pressing. Distillation is the most prominent method used to extract aromatherapy oils, however. This technique involves steaming the plant matter until it breaks down. The byproduct of this breakdown phase is the plant’s fragrant oil, which is cooled, separated from the water and finally filtered into its pure essential oil.
Synthetic Perfumes from Aroma Chemicals
Chanel No. 5 was the first man-made, or synthetic, perfume created. A synthetic perfume is made using organic compounds that create alcohol when reduced. Synthetic oils are artificially produced to mimic natural odors. Common aroma chemicals include benzyl acetate, ethanol and limonene. Oftentimes aroma chemicals last longer and are stronger than those that occur naturally.
Essential and synthetic oils can be blended together to create different scents. These oils are divided into top, middle and base notes. The top notes are the fragrance notes you smell as soon as the perfume is sprayed. The middle notes come second, followed by the longest lasting of the three, the base notes. Base notes are often heartier essential oils, like cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla, amber and patchouli.
Once the essential oils are blended, they are diluted with water and/or alcohol to lessen their concentration. Then there is a waiting period; anywhere from 48 hours to several weeks depending on the strength desire of the perfume.
Eau de what? Toilette? Parfum? Isn't it all the same?
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 14:58 | Wendy
OK, so what is the difference between an eau de toilette, eau de parfum, and perfume – other than the price? These distinctions are more than just a fancy way to label fragrances; they represent the actual concentration of the scent, with an “eau,” or water, generally being the lightest (and often less expensive). Watch an exclusive perfume.org video on the differences here!
