Fragrances are an important part of our daily dressing. We use them to smell good, lift our spirits, and as a signature statement- part of our attire. Research shows that scents have the potential to reveal indicators about our personality and temperament. Some divination practitioners can make predictions based on your coffee scent impressions. Others can gauge your inclinations by the scent you wear. Selecting a scent with the perfect dominant ingredient becomes as important as selecting the culinary theme of a meal.
Perfumes are expensive luxury items. When purchasing a high-quality fragrance, you expect it to last beyond a few hours. Investing in a brand with lasting smell caters to cost-effectiveness and delivers your money's worth. When you are satisfied with the performance of a fragrance, you will purchase it again and again, making it your signature scent.
Fragrance designer teams often take inspiration from nature. The constituents are an extract from natural raw material and are fused with synthetic items to increase their longevity. If the longevity of a scent is important to you, keep the following ingredients in mind.
Jasmine
A sweet-smelling white flower, the extract from jasmine makes its way into most perfume ingredients for women. Jasmine is one of the foundation notes in perfume making and is referred to as ‘La Fleur’, the flower, in the fragrance industry. There are nearly 200 varieties of jasmine and not all jasmine extracts are equal. Two varieties, in particular, have special use in perfume-making.
- Jasminum grandiflorum, which means ‘big-flowered jasmine,’ is commonly used in fragrances. Its cultivation is prevalent in Grasse where the famous brand Chanel grows its jasmine.
- Sambac Jasmine, also known as Tuscan or Arabian jasmine, is the other prominent type of jasmine used in popular scents.
Jasmine is one of the most expensive extracts used in the fragrance industry. A milliliter of jasmine scent requires the extract from 8000 flowers. Jasmine blooms are hand-picked to maintain the integrity of the delicate flower. The amount of labor that goes in selecting and harvesting jasmine is why it is considered to be a coveted luxury scent.
Many brands use the sweet, intense smell of jasmine. Jasmine plants smell different depending on where they are grown. The character notes range from medicinal to sweet, and some musky and green. The creative noses of the perfume designers select the perfect blends for us to wear. Some brands may use synthetic versions of jasmine, which does not yield the same authentic scent, but allows the fragrance to be more affordable.
If you love the intoxicating scent of jasmine, here are some recommended fragrances:
Oud
Oud, referred to as liquid gold, is another expensive yet essential perfume ingredient. There is no in-between for the scent of oud- people either love it or hate it. The scent is derived from resin that results from fungus growth on the wood of the Aquilaria tree. Agarwood is another name for the resulting product with the distinct smell we know as oud.
The oud scent is strong enough to influence other notes in a perfume. Fragrance experts take care in the selection of paired notes. Those who love oud find the smell to be irresistible and attractive with bittersweet and woody hints. The earthly tone is heady and sexy, meant for daring personalities. The longevity of the scent is dependent upon:
- type of oud resin used
- the duration of its aging
- the quantity used in a brand
From an age-old perfume element in Arabic and Indian cultures, oud has made its way into the west as a high-demand item. Synthetic versions retain the woody and leathery qualities, yet the original smooth balsamic and warm touch of oud is only specific to the real ingredient.
Whether you are new to oud or want to explore a different oud scent, we recommend these:
Citrus
Clean and fresh with an optimistic aura, citrus embodies a lengthy list of raw ingredients. Citrus-smelling fruits and raw ingredients (lemongrass) are some of the age-old perfume ingredients. Grapefruit, yuzu, and hassaku are some new additions to the list. Citrus scents are extracted via cold-pressed methods to preserve their natural freshness.
Often utilized as a top note, citrus scents bring a familiar yet pleasing effect. An air of genuine cleanliness and easy elegance that is uplifting and stimulating. Citrus reminds us of sunny mornings with a fresh breeze. Citrus also complements its floral counterparts and tones down the sweetness of floral scents. Citrus pairs well with resin scents in oriental perfumes and is a great adjunct to spicy notes. The zesty smell infuses a seductive tartness to a perfume. If you crave a fragrance infused with citrus, give these a try:
Cedarwood
Aromatic, woody, and musky amber smell are descriptors for cedarwood. One of the oldest perfume ingredients, cedarwood has a somber yet fresh effect. Often used as a base note in masculine scents, it also embodies the heady characteristics of female scents because of its versatility. Steam distillation of the tree's wood, roots, and foliage yields the oil with a balsamic smell.
The dry woody scent compliments any cheerful top and middle notes. It pairs with citrus, floral, and spicy notes beautifully and the calming aroma balances the sharpness and intensity of aromatic ingredients. A dependable and versatile scent that can reinforce other combinations, it is difficult to find a perfume without a hint of woody character. Choose cedar wood for its lasting impact.
Here's one we recommend you explore: Santal Journey
Patchouli
Woody scents dominate perfume ingredients with lasting odor. Another important scent to add to this list is patchouli. A single drop of pure patchouli oil delivers a smell that lasts for months.The woody smell comes not from wood but from a leaf of an exotic Indian bush. An old scent that arrived in Europe along with Napoleon Bonaparte, it became a hippy fad in the 60s and 70s in the US. Considered a controversial scent, Patchouli is synonymous with a common heady and overwhelming scent. But do not let hearsay fool you about patchouli- it is the base of an entire class of perfumes, the chypre fragrances. The olfactory profile of patchouli depends upon:
- the cultivation techniques
- time of the harvest
- the process of drying
- distillation techniques
Only 3-4 top pairs of mature leaves yield the highest quality oil. The extraction of patchouli oil is intricate and detailed and only a few distilleries perform the highly skilled work. The scent of patchouli is earthy and herbaceous with a rich and intense green heart and a woodsy base. The smell improves with the aging of the oil and it takes a fruity nuance. The oil has a balsamic tone with a minty, woody undertone. It blends with a flair with oriental, chypre, and fougère-type fragrances. It is commonly used beautifully with powdery perfumes. Patchouli's tone harmonizes well with other earthy scents. Some of them include vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood, clove, lavender, rose, labdanum, etc.
Enjoy the long-lasting scent of patchouli with these fragrances:
Sandalwood
Another smooth woody note that comes with a promise of lasting scent is sandalwood. The use of sandalwood is widely prevalent in religious and traditional circles of Asia. The sweet intoxicating smell complements floral notes and the wood is aromatic with an enduring retentivity. Often used as a base note, the sandalwood is a symbol of vitality and life, according to Indian religious beliefs. Sandalwood acts as an excellent fixative to other ingredients in perfume.
The oil has a calming and relaxing effect and its use as an aphrodisiac agent is common in aromatherapy. So next time you are heading for a romantic occasion, spray a perfume with sandalwood notes to make a lasting impression.
Try this sandalwood fragrance: Santal Journey
Amber
Sweet and warm with a cozy character, amber is an oriental note by default. Known by many poetic names, some of which include:
- Tears of the sun
- Tiger's soul
- Hardened honey
- Petrified light
- Window to the past
- Nordic gold
Amber is a plant resin that has fossilized over millions of years and presents in many colors. Used to make ornaments in different parts of the world, amber has a place in perfume making as well. Its prevalent use in oriental perfumes has given rise to amber Orientals, a new perfume category.
Combining amber with aldehydes, sandalwood, galbanum, and vanilla gives a bright warm feel. Deep and sensual, it is a bit powdery yet sensuall to wear. Ambergris is the synthetic version of this plant resin and it combines vanilla to deliver a smooth sweet lasting smell. Soft and gentle, amber notes slowly envelop and linger for an extended time because of its pronounced character. Amber fixes floral notes into lasting odors, especially when used in large quantities.
Ready to give amber a try? We recommend:
Lavender
The smell of lavender is as pleasing as the sight of its fields. Just as there is no color except lavender to describe its hue, the smell of lavender is a unique experience. A clean aromatic smell that varies between licorice and medicine notes, it is an important ingredient in herbal medicine. The use of lavender in aromatherapy advanced into a perfume ingredient.
The odor profile of lavender changes its dominant trait according to the soil origin. The French version carries a sweet floral aroma while the Dutch variety has a sharp odor due to its high content of camphor and other terpenes. The hybrid type has a refreshing note.
Lavender oil is a fresh, sweet complement to floral fragrances. The Fougère type of perfumes is identifiable by their herbal lavender top notes and oakmoss base. The exact scent of lavender oil varies depending on the
- source of lavender
- the altitude at which it is grown, ( the higher the altitude, the more expensive lavender essence)
- the distillation techniques
Lavender note is not gender-specific. Its use is quite prevalent in colognes and perfumes for men where it delivers its dry and balmy base. If you thought lavender is old-fashioned and boring, think again and try these: