Perfumes

Early Use of Perfumes

There has always been a traffic in scents and by the year 2008 perfume had become a $10 billion industry. Today women have aroma wardrobes of at least six different perfumes, rather than a single signature perfume, keeping one special perfume for occasion moments.

People have used perfume, oils and unguents on their bodies for thousands of years in lesser or greater amounts dependant on fashion whims.  The early Egyptians used perfumed balms as part of religious ceremonies and later as part of pre love making preparations.

What Is Perfume Made From?

Perfume is prepared from about 78% to 95% of specially denatured ethyl alcohol and a remainder of essential oils.

Perfume is the costliest form of fragrance with 22% of essential oils.

Eau de Parfum (EDP), comes next with between 15 and 22% essential oils.

That's followed by Eau de Toilette (EDT) with 8 to 15% oils.

The weaker Eau de Cologne has just 4% essential oils.

For those who crave super subtlety Eau Fraiche with 1 to 3% essential oils, is the lightest dilution of fragrance.

Famous Early Perfumes: N°5 EAU DE PARFUM

Ernest Beaux created Chanel No. 5 for Coco Chanel in 1921.  It has a floral top note of ylang-ylang and neroli, with a heart of blends of jasmine and rose all above a woody base of sandalwood and vetiver.  Chanel believed women should wear perfume wherever they hoped to be kissed.  Today Chanel No.5 sells a bottle every 30 seconds. 

I think it was last month that I was riding past the Musée d'Orsay in a taxi cab when I noticed a giant advertising canvas featuring Kate Moss as the face of Parisienne by Yves Saint Laurent on the side of the building facing the Seine river. This month, it's the turn of Chanel No. 5 which is filling the same choice spot, one of the most spectacular showcasing for an advertising billboard you could find in the capital city. It makes the advert feel like it is part of the Parisian landscape and confers it immediate monumentality....

The new Chanel No.5 advertising display in a Parisian perfumery, January 2011

COCO COCO EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY

An elegant, luxurious spray closest in strength and character to the parfum form. Spray lightly on pulse points morning and evening. The classic signature bottle is a sophisticated addition to any dressing table.

N°19 EAU DE PARFUM

This assertive fragrance is faithful to the spirit of the original composition, created especially for Coco Chanel by Master Perfumer Henri Robert in 1971. A rich blend of floral and green notes, followed by May Rose and Iris from Florence. The finale: a hint of Chypre with a subtle, woody Vetiver note. Exclusive to chanel.com.

Burberry Brit Limited Edition fragrance interpretation with the atmosphere of the British winter.

Brit Fragrances for men and women Burberry perfumes are a new interpretation of the original scents that combines the special atmosphere and attitude of the British winter.

The two bottles are presented in a reflective metallic finish and very clean manner of Burberry.

New Bond No.9 Cooper Square:

New Cooper Square captures the trendy atmosphere of the neighborhood that the legendary Peter Cooper founded in the College of the 19th century. The trend emerged from combining creative style of a brand new chic with an old New York’s past that includes a warm, spicy and intense fragrance.

Guerlain Muguet 2011: News on a Seasonal Release

Guerlain lately re-issues a special edition of their delicate and spring-like Muguet each year as a limited edition on the 1st of May (Traditionally the day when muguet ~lily of the valley in French~ is offered as a porte-bonheur, a good luck charm in France).

 Top Ten Expensive Perfumes

10. Ivoire

Ivoire de Balmin is a floral fruity fragrance for women, by Pierre Balmin. There are many types of the top perfumes such as violet, aldehydes, marigold, lemon, mandarin orange, artemisia, etc.

9. Shalimar

Shalimar is a women fragrance by Guerlain in 1925. The fragrance can be described as vanillaa, sweet, and powdery. The perfume was introduced at the Decorative Arts Exhibition using a mixture of vanilla and labdanum, which is considered to be an oriental perfume.

8. Chanel No.5

The chanel no.5 is the first fragrance launched by Parisian couturier Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, and has been on sale continuously since its introduction in 1921.  It is the floral aldehydic feminine fine fragrance.

7. Arpege

The arpege perfume was launched in 1927 by Lavin. The scent possesses a blend of high powdery floral notes combining jasmine, roses, and orange blossoms. It is classified as a gentle, floral frangrance, and luxrious.

6. Caleche

Caleche perfume was launched by design house of hermes in 1961. It is classified as a refined, woody, mossy, fragrance. The feminine scent possesses a blend of rose, iris, woods, and oakmoss.

5. Opium

The first marketed of the opium perfume was in 1977, by Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac of Roure. It is an oriental-spicy. The perfume are mixture of fruit and spices with plum, mandarin orange, etc.

4. Diva

It was launched by Ungaro in 1983, and is classified as a woody, luxurious, and mossy fragrance. All products are original, authentic name brands.

3. Tiffany

Tiffany was launched in 1987, for the first fragrance for women which combines rose, warm jasmine and iris with subtle of orange. It is made by one of the most famous and successful jewellery producers in the world, tiffany & Co.

2. Joy

Joy is a perfume created in 1929. At the heart of joy is a luxurious combination of jasmine and rose, joy contains other flowers such as tuberose and ylang-ylang. joy also does not smell like a specific flower.

1. Bijan

Bijan perfumes was launched in 1987 by Bijan, and it is classified as an oriental, refined, and woody fragrance. The feminine scent possesses a blend of oakmoss, orange flower and sandalwood.