Perfume 201; The Refresher Course

Start of Avon

In 1886 David McConnell started The California Perfume Company in upstate New York. McConnell was a door-to-door book salesman who found that women would listen to his pitch because of the free rose oil samples he would hand out. Eventually, he created the company’s first collection for fragrances, called Little Dot Perfumes. In 1929 the company changed its name to Avon because of the similarity of landscape surrounding the laboratories in Suffern, NY to that of Avon, England!

Eau De Toilette and Eau De Parfum, What does it all mean?

These terms refer to the strength of the fragrance. Parfum is generally the most concentrated form you can buy.  Strength is determined by how much alcohol and/or water has been added to the oil. Examples are below:

Eau de Cologne (2 – 5% perfume oil)
Eau de Toilette (4 – 10% perfume oil)
Eau de Parfum (8 – 15% perfume oil)
PARFUM or Perfume (15 – 25% — also sometimes referred to as extract or extrait)

What are the “fragrance families”?

These are “aroma groupings” of related scents. There is more than one classification system in use, but many list 7 major families: Greens, Florals, Aldehydics, Chypre, Oriental, Fougère & Tobacco/Leather. You can take the personality fragrance test on this page to find what family best fits you!

How can I make my perfume last longer on my skin?

The best way to make fragrance last longer is to use a heavy body lotion or cream along with the fragrance because perfumes evaporate more rapidly from dry skin. You can purchase matching creams, unscented creams, petroleum jelly, or jojoba oil.  Lightly misting your hair is a sure fire trick for a lasting scent.

How do I keep my perfume?

To store perfume properly, keep it away from heat and light. A dark closet or a covered box is best. Some experts say perfume should be replaced every year, but properly stored will last longer up to several years in fact! Once color has turned perfume has good “bad” and should be tossed.