http://articles.cheapcologneandperfume.com/rss.xml A blog about cheapcologneandperfume.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.cheapcologneandperfume.com/?a=36178 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>With its aisles and aisles of colored vials, the world of perfume can perplex someone who does not know her way around. As daunting as exploring perfumes and fragrances may seem, any newcomer can pick up a basic knowledge of the taxonomy of perfumes, which will help her choose the one that best suits her.<br /><br />Traditionally each and every perfume is put into to a specific group or family. These families all more or less reduce to six different categories of fragrance, floral or sweet, sporty or clean, green or natural, musk, woody or chypre, and oriental or spicy. Every person's taste in fragrance varies. Some people like a specific family, and some people like them all.<br /><br />The only thing that is certain about fragrance preference is that it can chance with time. As a girl matures into a woman, her tastes in fragrance will likely mature as well. A young woman who is enthusiastic about the sparkling smell of floral perfumes may gradually grow to like the more powerful, deeper scent of woody or even musk perfumes.<br /><br />Floral or sweet fragrances are the most popular category of fragrance. They get their dominant smell from one or several flowers. A perfume whose aroma is made up of only one flower is called a soliflore. Floral fragrances have a light, playful quality to them, and are for a woman who likes to have a lighthearted air. They conjure images of carefree spring time, or can be bubbly and enthusiastic. <br /><br />Some noteworthy examples of floral fragrance are Chanel No. 22, Estee Lauder Pleasures and White Lineny, L'Air Du Temps by Nina Ricci, and Joy by Jean Patou.<br /><br />Sporty or clean fragrances are named for their freshness, a quality that roughly akin to the smell of a warm shower or a good soap. These fragrances are found most often in eau de colognes. Given their refreshing nature, women who are active or athletic may find sporty fragrances appealing. Some classic sporty fragrances are Estee Lauder Alliage, Lily Chic by Escada, Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren Polo for Women and Tommy Girl.<br /><br />The natural or green perfume family is so named for the homey, natural smells it provides. Think of pine forests or oceanside walks and you come close to the aroma of a natural perfume. If these sorts of activities inspire you, perhaps you would like a natural fragrance. Examples of natural perfumes are Burrberry London, Calvin Klein Truth for Women, Poison by Christian Diro, and True Star by Tommy Hilfiger.<br /><br />Musk fragrances are strongly suggestive and sexy. They are powerful and meant for the women who is through playing games and knows what she wants, or for the sort of wordless communication that is so effective between lovers and would-be lovers. Musk fragrances give off the strongest aroma of all the fragrance families. They are derived from the male musk deer from the Himalayas, muskrats, and musk oxen. Common musk perfumes are O Oui by Lancome, Shalimar by Guerlain, L'Aminant by Coty, and Dolce &amp; Gabbana for Women.<br /><br />Chypre or woody perfumes are sometimes also referred to as earthy. This family is made up of fragrances which contain bergamot, jasmine and oakmoss. Woody fragrances can be described as a mixture of the flavors of custard and apricot, and seem to suit the woman who sports birkenstocks. Popular examples of chypre and woody perfumes are Chanel No. 19; Envy Me by Gucci, Paloma Picasso Perfume, and Romance by Ralph Lauren.<br /><br />Oriental or spicy is used to describe the last perfume family. These perfumes, which can also be called ambers, are made up of animal scents and vanilla combined with wood and flowers, or both. Oriental fragrances are spicy and exotic, and stand apart, and so are perfect for the woman who can stand on her own two feet with confidence. Some popular perfumes that are in the oriental family are Emeraude by Coty, Estee Lauder Youth Dew, Lancome's Magic Noir and Tresor, and Opium by Yves Saint Laurent.<br /><br />Now you know the basics of how fragrances are categorized. Armed with this knowledge of the perfume families, head on down to the fragrance shop nearest you. You will have an edge! Now you know which family suits you best!</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as inexpensive perfume at <a href="http://www.cheapcologneandperfume.com/">http://www.cheapcologneandperfume.com</a></p> 2006-10-28T12:45-04:00 http://articles.cheapcologneandperfume.com/?a=36177 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Have you ever taken a stroll through a flower garden and been overwhelmed by the pleasing array of floral smells? The gentle weight of nature's aroma can lighten our moods and makes even the sunniest day brighter. The power of flowers' aromas is not lost on the designers of perfumes and fragrances. Actually, flowers make up a major source for perfume manufacturers.<br /><br />While perfumes can be made from many different substances, like fruits, herbs, trees, grasses, tobacco and chocolate, and sometimes even from animal products, their base is very often the scent from flowers. Each particular flower has a particular smell that can add a unique quality to a perfume. Some flowers can produce even more than one aroma. Roses, for instance, are all called roses, but each type, from your grandmother's heirlooms to the miniature ones sold in a grocery store offer minute variations on the theme of the aroma of a rose.<br /><br />The difference in the smell of a flower can even start to be studied like the differences between the flavors of a wine. Things like the weather where the flower grew, soil conditions, even whether or not pesticides were used to care for the plant, all affect the way its flowers will smell.<br /><br />Fragrance makers are finely aware of these things and select accordingly. But just having the right flower is not enough. Fragrance makers isolate the essential oils, the essence of aromas, from plants and flowers to use in their products. Essential oils can be extracted from pretty much any organic substance, but by far the most common ones used in fragrance making are rose, jasmine and orange flowers. Another flower, slightly less commonly used, is the ylang-ylang flower.<br /><br />The use of roses for perfumes dates to the ancient Greeks and Romans, and rose based perfumes make up 70% of perfumes made. The most popular cultivars of perfume rose are the Damask Rose and Rosa Centifolia. Roses for perfumes are picked at night, which preserves their aroma.<br /><br />Like roses destined to be perfumes, perfume bound jasmine flowers are picked at night. Also, they are processed and refined as soon as possible, to preserve quality. Jasmine is highly finicky and demanding, but just as highly important, as it is found in more than three quarters of the perfumes manufactured today.<br /><br />Orange blossoms that are going into perfumes come not from Florida but mainly from Europe and Africa. The oil that comes from orange blossoms gives off a fresh and zesty clean smelling aroma that pleases the senses. What's more, essential orange oils need not only be drawn from orange blossoms. The entire orange tree can provide them, from the bark to the leaves, even the rind of oranges themselves.<br /><br />The ylang-ylang flower is the most exotic of the common ingredients in perfumes. It is found only in Southeast Asia. The best ylang-ylang flowers are harvested only after the buds have been open for a couple weeks, and then immediately processed, like jasmine.<br /><br />Bearing these things in mind, when you choose a fragrance, it is a good idea to first choose a floral scent that you like. Then, research to see which perfumes use that flower and go to the department stores or a perfume shop and sniff out the right perfume for you.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as inexpensive perfume at <a href="http://www.cheapcologneandperfume.com/">http://www.cheapcologneandperfume.com</a></p> 2006-10-28T12:41-04:00