Understanding fragrances requires knowledge of the concentration of fragrance oils, which plays a significant role in the overall scent experience, along with other factors such as longevity. But before delving into these factors, it's important to define the meanings of "Eau" and "De".
"Eau" is the French word for water, pronounced as "oh." "De," on the other hand, means "from" and is pronounced as "the." Therefore, when you come across the phrase "Eau de," it implies "water from the."
When purchasing a new fragrance, several factors can affect its scent. You might have noticed that a fragrance may smell different in the bottle or on someone else compared to how it smells on you. This is mainly because of various factors such as storage, body chemistry, and "perfume immunity." These factors can affect how long a fragrance will last and may also change its smell.
Perfumes are delicate due to their fragile chemical composition and bottles. Therefore, they can get damaged easily if not taken care of properly. However, you can take proper precautions to keep even the most expensive scents safe.
Storage
When you open a bottle of perfume, it is exposed to oxygen and other environmental factors, which can cause it to break down and lose its fragrance. Therefore, it is crucial to take good care of your perfume by storing it in a cool and dark place away from direct sunlight. This will not only help maintain its freshness but also extend its lifespan, allowing you to enjoy your favorite scent for a longer time.
It is important to note that perfumes are not immune to changes over time, and their fragrance can diminish or even become unpleasant due to discoloration and degradation. This is because the chemicals in the perfume can react with oxygen, light, and heat, causing the fragrance to break down. If not stored properly, perfume can go bad within a few months, losing its original scent and quality. Therefore, it is recommended to keep perfumes away from direct sunlight, high temperatures, and humidity to preserve their fragrance and extend their shelf life.
Body Chemistry
It is a well-known fact that fragrances can react differently on different individuals. Every person has a unique body chemistry that can influence how a fragrance smells on them. There are several factors that contribute to this, such as their level of physical activity, exposure to other scents, personal hygiene, body temperature, and overall chemical makeup. Each of these factors can play a significant role in how a fragrance interacts with an individual's skin chemistry, leading to variations in the scent profile. For example, someone who is very active may have a higher body temperature, which can cause a fragrance to evaporate more quickly, resulting in a shorter-lasting scent. Similarly, someone who uses scented body wash or lotion may find that the fragrance of their perfume or cologne is altered or blended with the scent of the product they used. Overall, it's essential to keep in mind that fragrances are highly subjective and can vary significantly based on the individual wearing them.
Perfume Immunity
Wearing the same perfume every day can lead to your nose becoming less sensitive to its scent over time. This means that although the perfume is still present, you may not be able to smell it as strongly as when you first started using it. Before reapplying, it may be a good idea to ask someone nearby if they can smell your perfume. It’s likely that, depending on what you applied earlier that day, you may be unable to smell it, but others can. This is how you'll know that you have become immune to the scent. The level of insensitivity can vary from person to person and can increase over time. One way to increase your sensitivity is by exposing yourself to a variety of scents by switching to a different perfume every other day.
