Perfume
Body Chemistry
Skin Types
There are three major skin types, and each type reacts differently to fragrances. Dry skin is characterized by nearly invisible pores, low elasticity, and rough complexion. Fragrances easily evaporate on dry skin as there is not much oil for the fragrance molecules to adhere to. For fragrances to work well on dry skin, it is ideal to moisturize with an unscented – or similarly scented – lotion before spraying on fragrance to maximize its longevity.
Normal skin is characterized by an almost flawless complexion with few or no imperfections, and barely visible pores. As normal skin has more oil content than dry skin, fragrances have a better lasting power. The best skin type for fragrances to cling to is oily skin. Oily skin on the face may not be desirable, but on the rest of the body, it means better adhesion to fragrance molecules.
The effect of skin type on fragrances is especially remarkable with cologne and eau de toilette with flowery, citrusy or fruity aromas as these have light scents and high volatility. On the other hand, oily skin perfectly complements musky perfume as the oil molecules bond together to shape depth and character to the scent.
Sweat
One of the more obvious factors that springs to mind when body chemistry is mentioned is Sweat. How much a person sweats depends on several factors such as diet, race, and physical activity. Asians are known to sweat less than Europeans, Africans, and Americans. People living in cool climates also sweat less than those who live in warm climates. When sweat mixes with fragrances, there results a reaction, which may vary among ingredients and brands of perfume and personal body chemistry. Summery scents such as orange and grass are found to mix well with sweat. These scents are actually amplified when mixed with perspiration, taking on a certain depth when the sweating subsides and only the scent lingers.
Examples of fragrances that do well with perspiration are Hermes Eau D’ Orange Verte, L’ Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu, and Chanel Allure. On the other hand, there are also ingredients that smell foul when they get mixed with sweat such as blackcurrant leaf. In general, musk and wood also do not complement sweat, so these are better reserved for cooler weather or in much relaxed activities.
Pheromones
Each person has a distinct, unique smell that is attributed to pheromones. However, science research in this particular field still has much room for improvement, and many facts are debatable. Fragrances can either be compatible or incompatible with one’s pheromones – this explains why the same bottle of perfume can smell good on one person but not on the other. There are even some products which attempt to take advantage of this idea, but there’s still a huge debate as to whether it really works.
Diet and Lifestyle
Perfume Types
Along with the types of perfume listed bellow, there are mists, aftershaves, and other types of fragrances available. Higher end fragrances can cost a significant amount of money so doing research beforehand will ensure that you get the type of fragrance you are looking for. Along with fragrance types there are also fragrance notes which determine the final scent. With all of the types and scents available, shopping for perfume is not always easy but it is possible.
Eau de Parfum
Eau de Toilette
Eau de Cologne
Eau Fraiche
Eau fraiche is similar to eau de cologne in that the scent will generally last for up to two hours. Eau fraiche has an even lower concentration of fragrance than eau de cologne, normally only 1% to 3%. While eau fraiche has a low fragrance concentration, it does not contain a high amount of alcohol. Along with the fragrance, the remainder of eau fraiche is mostly water.
