Introduction:
Finding the right perfume often means going through a vast array of terms. Terms like sillage, gourmand, and projection are used frequently, but what’s their real meaning? Knowing the fragrance terminology helps when you’re picking the perfect scent. We at 7Perfumes believe that all perfume lovers should move through this world with ease. That’s why we’ve assembled this easy-to-understand guide to key perfume terms.
1. Notes: Top, Heart, and Base
A fragrance is made of different layers known as notes. These notes make up a unique smell of fragrance.
Top Notes: You smell these notes first when you put on perfume. They are usually light, like citrus or flowers. But the top notes don’t last long, just about 15 minutes to an hour.
Heart Notes (Middle notes): These come out after the top notes go away. They are the perfume’s main part and usually smell like flowers, spice, or fruit. They can stay for a few hours.
Base Notes: These are the strongest parts of perfume and stick around after the heart notes are gone. Base notes often smell deep like vanilla, musk, or wood.
2. Accord:
Perfume is like a melody. In music, you combine different notes to produce a distinct tune. Similarly, in perfumes, various scents are combined to create a unique “accord.” Consider a “woody” accord as an example, where you might find scents like cedar, sandalwood, and patchouli mixed. These accords make up the essence of a perfume and consist of combined layers of diverse notes.
3. Sillage:
Sillage (pronounced “see-yazh”) is like the aromatic footprint you leave when you move. A perfume with high sillage can leave a fragrance lingering in the air even after you’ve left the room, whereas a low sillage perfume’s aroma would linger close to your skin.
4. Projection:
Projection is how far a fragrance travels. Sillage talks about the scent trail while Projection means the range of a fragrance. A perfume with a wide projection can be sensed from a good distance away. A modest projection perfume sticks closer to you.
5. Longevity:
The term used for how long a fragrance stays once applied is longevity. This is controlled by the perfume’s ingredients and concentration. Dense scents like musk usually stick around longer than light ones. For long-lasting fragrances go for Eau de Parfum or Parfum. They have more concentration of perfume oils.
6. Concentration Types:
There’s a range of scent concentrations which affects how long-lasting and powerful the fragrance is. The most common concentrations are:
- Parfum (Pure Perfume): This is the highest concentration with 20-30% perfume oils. Its powerful aroma can last from 8 to 12 hours.
- Eau de Parfum (EDP): This one is slightly less potent with 15-20% oils. It stays on for about 6 to 8 hours.
- Eau de Toilette (EDT): This fragrance carrying 5-15% perfume oils, gives a lighter and refreshing feel which lasts for 4 to 6 hours.
- Eau de Cologne (EDC): It is a light fragrance that carries 2-4% oil and lasts for 2 to 3 hours.
- Eau Fraîche: The simplest choice holds a mere 1-3% perfume oil, serving a short-lived fragrance surge.
7. Fragrance Families:
Perfumes typically fall into certain fragrance groups; each gives off a unique aroma. These include:
- Floral: They contain scents like rose and jasmine, often seen as sweet and soft
- Oriental: These are spicy and inviting with notes of amber, musk, and various spices.
- Woody: Smells close to nature, with elements such as sandalwood, cedar, and patchouli.
- Fresh: They contain citrus, green, and water smells, making you feel fresh and vibrant.
8. Gourmand:
These are sweet, dessert-like perfumes that make your mouth water. Vanilla, chocolate, caramel and coffee make up Gourmand fragrances. They’re charming for those who enjoy sweet, edible scents.
9. Oud:
Oud, a valuable resin, comes from the agarwood tree and is beloved in Middle Eastern fragrance creation. Its lavish and alluring scent offers smoky and woody notes, forming the basis of many oud perfumes. With a deep and appealing character, these perfumes are gaining favor around world.
10. Aldehydes:
Aldehydes are organic compounds that make a fragrance sparkle and feel new. They became popular because of Chanel No. 5 and are often thought of as fresh and bubbly, with a touch of soapiness.
11. Lactonic:
Lactonic touches give scent a creamy, milk-like feel. These tones often make soft, comforting scents with ingredients like coconut milk or almond milk. These are good for those who like quiet, warm fragrances.
12. Solar:
Solar touches recall the warmth of the sun. They often mix floral, creamy, and musky touches. These scents are great for a sunny, beach feel and are liked for their bright, warming effect.
13. Chypre:
Chypre fragrances are complex and classy, often mixing citrus top touches, a floral heart, and a mossy, woody base. They’re balanced and refreshing, yet warm.
14. Dry Down:
The dry down is the last stage of a scent as it sticks to your skin. In this stage, the base notes take over, giving the fragrance its lasting power and depth. The dry down stage often lasts the longest in a perfume’s life.
15. Scent Bloom and Fade:
When a scent is first worn, it “blooms,” letting out its top notes. As time passes, the scent fades to the heart and base notes, transitioning from bright, airy scents to deeper, stronger ones.
Knowing these key fragrance terms can help make choosing a perfume simpler and more fun. With 7Perfumes, you can find a variety of fragrances to suit your taste, from fresh and safe scents to deep, strong smells.
FAQs
1. What is the terminology of perfume?
Perfume terminology is all about the way we talk about smells or fragrances. Notes, accords, sillage, projection, and concentration levels are all part of this terminology.
2. What are the 4 different fragrances?
The four main fragrance families are:
- Floral: These include rose or jasmine flower’s scent.
- Oriental: These are warm, spicy smells.
- Woody: Smooth smell of cedar or sandalwood.
- Fresh: Light and pleasant smells, like citrus or water.
3. What is oud called in English?
Oud is called agarwood in English. This precious resin comes from the Aquilaria tree and has a deep, smoky, woody smell.
4. What is Santal?
That’s just the name for sandalwood. It’s some wood with a beautiful smell that is warm, creamy, and woody. It is often used in perfumes and incense.
5. What are Musks?
They are warm, earthy smells, used as base notes in any perfume. Originally, they were obtained from animals, but most Musks we use today are made in labs.