Before using perfume you have to know

Before using perfume you have to know

The history of perfume

The word "perfume" comes from the Latin per fume "through smoke". This refers to the original use of fragrances - the burning of incense and herbs as a religious offering.

Ancient Egyptians: The aromatic tree gums frankincense and myrrh were popular, as were unguents - a perfume made from plant extracts such as rose, henna, lily and peppermint that were steeped in oil and rubbed on the skin.

The Far East: Use of perfume waned during early Christian times, but this changed as commerce became more sophisticated and wide reaching. In the Middle Ages, as trade routes opened up between the West and the East, spices began to feature in many fragrances. Pomanders (balls or beads made from resins, powdered spices, scented oils and waters) were a popular form - worn as necklaces or held in the hand and sniffed to mask nasty smells.

The Arabs: Invented distillation in the 7th or 8th century, leading to the production of essential oils and perfumed waters which could be used to scent rooms and bedding.

Named scents: In 1675 the first named perfume, Bouquet a la Marichal arrived on the commercial market.

Synthetic scents: Organic chemists in the 19th century began the production of synthetic perfume materials. This proved to be the beginning of what has become a ten billion dollar industry.

Eau de what?

Perfume is made up of denatured ethyl alcohol and essential oils. The different names refer to the percentage of essential oils, and thus the strength of the scent.

Perfume: 22% of essential oils

Eau de Parfum: 15 - 22%

Eau de Toilette: 8 - 15%

Eau de Cologne: 4%

Why bother?

Smell is one of our most powerful senses, evoking the most distant of memories. We have 10 million nasal cells that enable us to smell. As infants, we call upon this sense to help recognise our mothers, while many experts claim it plays a vital role in the science of sexual attraction.

The scent

Perfume smells differently when worn on the skin, so don't rely on a whiff from the bottle. Instead, test perfumes before buying. Once applied, wander around for at least 15 minutes and see how you feel about it then. Perfumes can take up to an hour to fully develop, which means first impressions rarely tell you anything. Make sure the scent suits YOU, what smells great on a mate may not smell so great when you try it.

How to apply

1. Spray or dab perfume to a couple of your pulse points, usually your wrists and neck, though some women favour the back of the knees, crease of the elbows and/or their cleavage.

2. Do not rub wrists together afterwards as this flattens the scent.

3. Spray a little into the air and walk into it to diffuse the scent all over you.

4. If you're wearing perfume, try not to use scented body lotions/toners/moisturisers, as the end result will be confused. Use unscented products instead.

5. Keep perfume away from heat and direct sunlight and make sure the lid is on firmly to keep it at its best.