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How to Layer Fragrances– A Complete Guide to Perfume Layering and Scent Combinations.Layering a fragrance is a term often spoken about or described as if coming from the circle of evolved perfume users. It comes across as an act of perfumery that is preserved for the experts; the select few. For the scores of common users, it feels like a level of game that they are yet to reach. But that’s really the not the case. And yet again, we at Dopamine Perfumes & Fragrances are here to simply the myth of layering scents. What it implies and what is our view on perfume layer. Read on
What is Perfume Layering?
The term ‘Perfume Layering’ itself has two layers – as in it has two meanings. For some people, ‘how to layer perfume’ means wearing two different perfumes together, at the same time. Like mixing red color with yellow to orange. Let’s call it ‘Method 1’. Whereas when some say, ‘how to layer a fragrance’ they mean how to apply a particular perfume with other complementary products and techniques to truly relish the fragrance and make it long lasting. This is ‘Method 2’.
Both definitions and methods are correct. However, both have different objectives. Method 1 is all about customizing the fragrance experience and making it personal and unique by mixing two different fragrances. Method 2 is about enhancing the experience of one fragrance by making it perform its best on your skin and making it last long. Let’s quickly breakdown the two methods for better understanding.
Layering scents of two different perfumes
Every perfume is bouquet of scents of different ingredients. The choice ingredients are an art and the combined scent of this creation gives a perfume its character. Like fresh or sweet or deep & warm, or light and airy etc. When you layer one perfume which has its own character with another, their characters combine to create to new, unique scent. It can be a hit, or it can be a miss. But it will be your baby. At Dopamine Perfumes & Fragrances, we believe that this is not a great practice because you lose the essence of each perfume. And for you to truly arrive at your signature combination needs time, experiment and knowledge.
Layering fragrance to enhance the experience
This form of layering simply means beefing the fragrance by following a scientific application routine and/ or adding complementary products of the same fragrance, like deodorants, body mist, body lotion etc to beef up the scent. This is an informed way of using a perfume and is not subject to experiment. It’s one of the best perfumes layering combinations which aids in getting a long-lasting experience. At Dopamine Perfumes & Fragrances, when we refer to perfume layer, we speak about this layer, and in fact, actively advocate it.
How to Layer Perfumes the Right Way
If you are wondering how to layer fragrances to truly enhance the scent experience of your perfume, here’s the answer
Expand the Product suite of the Same Fragrance
If you have a favourite perfume, see if that fragrance is available as a Deodorant, Shower Gel or Lotion. That’s the starting point of Layering for Method 2. Dopamine Perfume’s most loved product Intimate For Him Perfume is also available in Intimate For Him Deodorant form. Most customers buy both and use the Deo as an added perfume layer
Preparing the Skin
The best time to apply perfume is after bath when your skin is clean and hydrated. If your perfume fragrance is available in the form Shower Gel, that’s the best option. If you must apply the perfume during other times, make sure your skin is clean and hydrated.
Moisturise the Skin
Use a scented body lotion, preferably of the same fragrance as your perfume, to hydrate your skin, especially to the pulse points, where your body heat is the maximum leading to diffusion of the fragrance. The fragrance oil in the perfume lingers longer on moisturised skin making the fragrance last longer.
Ensure you correctly apply the Perfume
Spritz on all your pulse points – wrists, behind the ears, on your forearms etc and spray it from a 15 cms distance so the molecules spread well on your skin. This will help in creating a wider perfume layer. Remember, 1 – 2 spritz on more pulse points is far more effective than big sprays at lesser pulse points
Add more layers
Top this ritual up by adding a Deodorant/ Body Mist of the same fragrance. The areas of application of Deos and Perfumes are different and using the Deodorant of the same fragrance at your sweaty private parts will help as a form of fragrance layer. Does and Perfumes of the same fragrance are a great perfume layering combo
Best Perfume Layering Combos to Try
We have covered our preferred method of layering scents which is to enhance the experience and longevity of the same fragrance. However, you must also have the answer to how to layer two different perfumes together. While we do not advocate it, let’s clarify how it works.
Create your Unique Scent
The objective of this form of perfume layer is to explore a bespoke scent by mixing perfumes that complementary or contrasting notes. This not only helps in layering the fragrance, it also helps in creating your own unique identity.
Experimentative Process
This form of layering fragrance is an art involving experimentation and reasonable understanding of notes and accords in a perfume. You may find your signature scent instantly or you may never find it all!
Begin by Layering scents with Complementary Notes
You can start with fragrances with overlapping or similar scent profiles. For example, layer the fresh, refreshing scents notes of Dopamine Success For Him Perfume with the green notes of Dopamine Memories For Him.
Play around with Contrasting Notes
If you are in the mood to experiment a lot, you can layer contrasting scents like a warm cozy scent with a light and airy profile. But do not that by layering such scents you are taking a risk of it becoming a not so pleasing fragrance. Read and understand about notes and accords beforehand.
Best Perfume for Layering – Top Picks from Dopamine Perfumes & Fragrances
Success For Him Parfum with Success For Him Deodorant
Dopamine Success For Him is a blend curated for wearing at Work, an ideal Office Fragrance. It is one of the most energetic scents for men which blends Fresh scents with White Floral notes.
Intimate For Him Parfum with Intimate For Him Deodorant
The highest selling fragrance from our Stable, Dopamine Intimate For Him is an intoxicating fragrance which is warm, cozy, and spicy. Its one the best date perfume in the market today.
Memories For Him with Memories For Him Deodorant
Dopamine Memories For Him takes a leaf out of history as it combines the Fourgere accord with aromatic Nutmeg and woody Vetiver. It gives it a great masculine scent which is ideal for wearing at parties or social events.
Driven For Him with Driven For Him Deodorant
Dopamine’s Driven For Him is an ode to such classy men where we have combined the soft & edgy fragrance of Flint rock combined with Vetiver and Grapefruit. It’s a light, airy and classy fragrance which makes it a great day time perfume.
Conclusion
Perfume Layers has different meanings – either mix two different perfumes as layering scents, or enhance the same scent by layering fragrances from complementary products like Deos, Body Mists, Lotions etc. How to layer perfume depends on which of the two objectives you wish to achieve. At Dopamine Perfumes, we strongly believe that layering two different perfumes is an experimentative and risky process. In the absence of adequate understating of notes and accords, this quest of creating a unique fragrance can become a zero-sum game.
Instead, we advocate, layering scents for the purpose of enriching the experience of the perfume scent you love the most. This is done by adding other complementary products of the same fragrance and following the correct technique of how to layer fragrances.
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Top 5 Perfumes For Men That Leave a Lasting ImpressionOpen the net and search for Top 5 Perfumes for Men and you will be flooded with several ads, blogs, and suggestions about top men’s fragrances. But more often than not, all this information covers only International Perfume Brands. It’s written from the standpoint of what is prevalent internationally. The suggestion about the type of fragrances that can be used by men is not tailored for tastes, usage habits and conditions prevalent in India. With younger population and improved grooming habits, when it comes to highlighting top 5 men’s fragrances, there is a need to present information that suits India and Indian Men. This is what we intend to cover in this blog.
At the outset, let us list down the peculiarities of our market that necessitates a specific coverage. Firstly, our weather conditions are different. India has tropical weather; more heat, more humidity. Secondly, the usage of perfumes is evolving. Let’s talk about Men’s perfume usage. We have more occasion specific perfume usage unlike West where perfume usage is a part of daily ritual. And every occasion beckons a specific fragrance which you will understand further down the blog. Lastly, the availability of luxury perfumes in India is limited. Yes, its rapidly improving with niche and artisanal brands like Dopamine Perfumes entering the market. But there is a need for awareness for such brands.
With this background, lets understand what, according io us, constitutes as Top 5 Perfumes for Men.
Why Are Perfumes Important For Men
Simply put, perfumes are that cherry on a cake. If you look at it, in the personal care category when grooming habits come into play, Perfumes is the only category that will be noticed and spoken about by others. You may use a great shampoo, conditioners, shower gel – all of this influences your appearance, but rarely does it elicit a reaction from others. Perfumes, on the other hand, get a reaction, even appreciation from others. It drives a man’s perception and impression. He may lot of effort in thinking about what to wear, the right clothes, shoes, accessories etc. After that, a few spritz of a great perfume will catapult his confidence level. Fragrances have a direct connection to moods and feelings. And Perfume is a great tool in your arsenal to achieve both a great feeling and amazing grooming. The importance of Perfumes For Men is underrated to say the least. Once you start recognising the multiple benefits perfume usage brings with it, it will become a part of daily life.
What Makes Perfume Stand Out
Fragrance Oils or Perfume Oils, the basic raw material of Perfume is the most important aspect of a perfume. In our mind, that’s the single biggest determinant of top 5 perfumes for men. Unfortunately, since Indian Perfume Industry is at a nascent stage, it is price sensitive and perception sensitive. Therefore, many brands resort to lesser spends on fragrance oils and higher spends on fancy bottles and packaging. At Dopamine Shop, we are very clear that we will produce high quality perfumes and to manage the final price end user, we will cut back on unnecessary spends like fancy bottles and over the top packaging.
The other important factor is the appropriateness of the fragrance oil to the usage occasion. This is a responsibility of the perfume brand to dig a deeper into curating fragrances for me that will be most appropriate for wearing at work or wearing on a date. Every occasion that a man chooses to wear a perfume for, he will want to be in a different frame of mind. A correctly chosen notes and accords in a fragrance oil can go a long way to achieve that.
The top 5 men’s fragrances curated by us is a listing of the top notes and accords that fantastically fit a man’s grooming goals.
Perfumes For Men in India – The Impact of our Weather
There are two factors here - the evolution of modern-day perfumes and the impact of weather on the longevity. Perfumes from Western countries are designed with perfume concentration levels suitable to their harmonious climate that less heat and humidity. So, an Eau De Parfum category works fine for them.
However, if you look at India, it has a tropical climate hence an Extrait De Parfum with high perfume concentration levels will perform better here. Extrait De Parfums have more fragrance oils that nullifies the impact of more heat in our weather.
This is a very important criteria for determining the top 5 male perfume notes and accords.
How to Pick the Best Perfume for Any Occasion
Office Perfume
Office Fragrances must achieve two purposes – they should be pleasing (since you will be working in a closed environment), and they should make one feel energetic and refreshed. Perfumes that combine refreshing, energetic scents of citrus family like lemon or orange with white floral notes like Jasmine, Neroli, Orange blossom etc are ripe for making it to the list of Top 5 perfumes for Men. White Florals add intensity and a little bit sweetness to the citrusy, tarty, and tangy notes. This combination is great as Top perfume for men for work as they induce an energetic feeling and create a refreshed frame of mind.
Party Perfume
Party Perfume is on the other end of the spectrum to Office Perfume. A party perfume must be a statement scent. A Party Perfume with a Fougere Accord is the best option. Fougere is a historical accord created in France in the late 1800s. It combined the notes of Lavendar, Coumarin and Oakmoss to mimic the scent of fern. Imagine the scent of freshly cut green grass. Since then, it has been extensively used in Men’s Perfume. The best party perfumes for men contain the fougere accord. This masculine fragrance can get men noticed due to its powerful and refreshing trail.
Date Perfume
Any list of top 5 male perfume must give importance to the usage occasion of dating. Amongst our several interactions with customers, we’ve learnt that a date perfume is a very big requirement when it comes to Perfume for Men. So how should a date night perfume be? The best date perfume must be warm, cosy and intoxicating. It should make one feel attractive and desirable. It must also meet the important criteria of lasting longer. To achieve the warmth and cozy feeling, the perfume must make you use of the Oriental ingredients – spices, resins and wood. Adding cinnamon, clove, saffron, vanilla etc makes a perfume extremely intoxicating and warm.
Day Perfumes
Daytime Perfumes can be bifurcated in two types – light & airy, and warm & deep. Perfumes that light and airy frequently appear in the list of top 5 perfumes for men the world over. While our intuition dictates that Men prefer stronger fragrances, there is a very big segment of men who prefer to keep it classy and subtle. A Day perfume for them is more about a personal wearing experience rather than a trail of scent that others can smell around them.
There is also another lot, which prefers a warm and deep scent which projects a classy, rich scent. Perfumes that have Oud as their dominant notes are a great hit as being the best perfume for daytime use, not only world over but amongst Indian users too. This magical ingredient that belongs to the Woody fragrance family can take mysterious and unique aroma when combined with certain ingredients. It brings with it the royalty and sophistication of times gone by.
Travel Perfumes
Variety and convenience are inherent when it comes to Travel Perfumes. Since you will be on the go, be it a vacation or business trip, a variety of fragrance families and ability to conveniently carry then around is the best option for travel perfume. Discovery Sets, offered by nice and artisanal brands like Dopamine, are a great choice for as Travel fragrance. These miniature versions of different varieties are gaining popularity as travel perfume.
Top 5 Perfumes For Him that leave a Lasting Impression
At Dopamine Perfumes we believe that Perfumes don’t have to smelt, but they must be felt. And the feeling for each occasion varies. How you want to feel on a date is vastly different than how you want to feel at Work, or how you want to feel at a Party. Every Dopamine Perfume has perfume concentration levels of 25%. Here’s a list of our Top 5 Perfumes For Men
Success For Him
Dopamine Success For Him is a blend curated for wearing at Work, an ideal Office Fragrance. It is one of the most energetic scents for men which blends Fresh scents with White Floral notes.
Intimate For Him
The highest selling fragrance from our Stable, Dopamine Intimate For Him is an intoxicating fragrance which is warm, cozy, and spicy. Its one the best date perfume in the market today.
Memories For Him
Dopamine Memories For Him takes a leaf out of history as it combines the Fourgere accord with aromatic Nutmeg and woody Vetiver. It gives it a great masculine scent which is ideal for wearing at parties or social events.
Driven For Him
Dopamine’s Driven For Him is an ode to such classy men where we have combined the soft & edgy fragrance of Flint rock combined with Vetiver and Grapefruit. It’s a light, airy and classy fragrance which makes it a great day time perfume.
Dark Side of Vanilla
Dopamine’s Dark Side of Vanilla is an intensely sweet perfume. It blends the warm sweetness of Vanilla with the Intensity of Tobacco. A heady and addictive scent that will make you and your loved one feel warm and cozy. Snuggle up!
Conclusion
Top 5 perfumes for men must be looked at from the lens of Indian conditions, and preferences and tastes of Men in India. The market for Indian Perfume Brands is rapidly increasing with niche and artisanal brands are making a wave with their unique creations. Specific combinations of notes and accords have been created to make top 5 male perfume from India a thing to reckon with. You can also check out Dopamine’s Unisex Perfume Collection.
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A Guide to Perfume PyramidThe world is full of triads. Be it body, mind & soul. Be it dreams, reality & illusion. Or even as tangible as top notes, middle notes & base notes in perfumes; also known as Perfume Pyramid. This triad structure in perfumery is extremely important and fascinating. In this blog we will dwell deeper on perfume pyramid with the intention that consumers can get a good enough understanding to be able to make an informed selection of their favourite fragrance.
What is the Perfume Pyramid?
The Perfume Pyramid is a fragrance classification model that represents the structure of a perfume in three distinct layers: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Understanding perfume pyramid or fragrance pyramid will require one to understand two more elements to perfumery – perfume concentration and type of fragrance families. The full impact of perfume pyramid rides on the foundation of these two elements. Thankfully, we have covered both these aspects lucidly before. Read our blog on perfume concentration here and back it up with going over our blog on types of fragrance families here.
In modern perfumery, the most important raw material is the fragrance oil or perfume oil. The perfumer’s baby. Using their creativity and imagination, they mix and match different ingredients to create a unified bouquet of scent. Once satisfied, the company will convert this oil into a perfume by adding alcohol, fixative and soluble. Basically, make it sprayable. It’s when you spray the perfume, the ingredients used by the perfumer in the perfume oil, interact with your skin and the perfume pyramid plays out. Let’s understand pyramid perfume a little more.
The Three Layers of Perfume Pyramid or Fragrance Pyramid
The ingredients added by the perfumer have its own individual scent. This is referred to as a ‘Note.’ The smell of rose when converted to a fragrance or perfume oil, is called a ‘Rose Note.’ Now, multiple ingredients (and in different quantities) go into making a perfume and each ingredient has its own ‘Note.’ All these notes blend to form a one cohesive scent bouquet. Think of music recordings where different musical instruments, each with its own unique sound, play together and create a symphony of music.
So, what has all this got to do with perfume pyramid? We say everything. See, when a perfume is sprayed on your skin, the heat releases the notes from the oil and that’s how you smell the scent. But because each ‘note’ has its own intensity and tenacity, the release happens at separate times. Usually, the whole scent has a lifespan of several hours. The reaction with skin and heat keeps happening till all ‘Notes’ are fully evaporated. Depending on when a particular note release itself in the air, it gets classified either as Top Note, Middle Note and Base Notes – the three layers of perfumer pyramid.
Top Notes
These are notes that react instantly and emanate the scent. They have high intensity as in they can be smelt immediately, but they evaporate faster; they are less tenacious. Citrus and are a splendid example of top notes. Usually if Top Notes lasts for about 15 mins to 30 mins max. They are opening notes of a perfume. When you smell a perfume at a store, this is note you smell first. Think of blazing youth.
Middle Notes
After the top notes start fading, you will start smelling the middle notes. Such notes are a good balance of intensity and tenacity. Floral notes like Rose note, Jasmine Note or Spicy notes like Saffron are good examples of Middle Notes. They are also known as the heart of the perfume or the main character of the perfume. They last for 2-3 hrs in the perfume life cycle. Think of midlife in human life cycle. The most productive time
Base Notes
And after midlife, comes the old age. Same with the perfume life cycle. They add stability of the entire fragrance and last the longest. If a perfume life cycle is 8-10 hours, then after about 4-5 hours, what you smell is the base note. The last remnants of the perfume. Woody notes – like Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver exemplify base notes in a perfume.
The Significance of Perfume Pyramid
When a perfumer is practicing his art of creating a fragrance, he knows beforehand what kind if ingredients are top, middle, or base notes. His expertise is in creating an optimum combination of the fragrance pyramid. And the ingredients in the perfume pyramid must pair well with each other. If only top notes are added, then it will too intense, too jarring when you smell it, and the life cycle will shorten to an hour max. Similarly, if only base notes are added, it will be great at lasting but unimpressive when you smell. Usually in a perfume, 15-20% is top notes, 40-50% is middle notes, and rest is base notes.
So how does it matter to you as a consumer? When you are assessing Perfumes at a store, you are evaluating a Perfume only on the basis on the Top Notes. Whereas the main heart of the Perfume is the middle note. What if you don’t like the middle note? You won’t be able to realise it till you start wearing it. One must wear a Perfume for a few days experience entire lifecycle of the notes before deciding if you like it or not.
How else are Perfume Notes classified?
Aside from being classified in the form of perfume notes pyramid, there is classification of notes into fragrance families too.
The following are the main perfume fragrance types:
Fresh
Sub-families :
Citrus Oils
Aqua or Marine Notes
Imagine the refreshing, energetic scent of lemon or orange. Yes, that citrusy, tarty, tangy notes. These notes are intense and volatile. The main profile is based on lemon, orange, bergamot, grapefruit, or mandarin.
Floral
Sub-families :
Soft Florals
White Florals
Powdery/ Floral Aldehydes
An immensely popular and widely used fragrance family. The best way to imagine a floral note mentioned in a perfume composition is to think about how that specific flower smells. Because a Rose’s smell is soft, sweet, and musky which is different from Mimosa flowers whose smell is Citrusy, and Jasmine whose smell intense and greener. Some flowers like violet and Iris have a powdery smell.
Aromatic
Sub-families :
Green Notes
Herbs
Fourgere Accord
Intense grassy- spicy scents fall under this fragrance type. It’s like combining smells of Fresh Fragrance Family with herbs like anise, rosemary, cumin etc. The best way to imagine this fragrance family is to think about freshly mowed grass. Its intense and masculine.
Amber (also known as Oriental)
Sub-families:
Spices
Resins/ Balms
Think of Oriental region. Scents here have accentuated warmth and sensuality. Includes warm spices like cardamom, saffron etc, and sharp spices clove, cinnamon, pepper.
Gourmand/ Sweet
Sub-families :
Fruits & Nuts
Sugary Food Smells
A tenacious and mouthwatering fragrance family which is extremely popular in perfumery these days. The Fruity sub-family consists sweeter smells like Plum, Peach, and Berries. Some scents of nuts like almond and hazelnuts. The sugary food smells are fragrances are suggestive of foody smells, specifically sweets and desserts, from chocolate to fresh cream to caramel.
Woody
Sub-families :
Woods
Mosses
Leather
As the name suggests, ingredients that are earthen, woody, and mossy. The smells of nature. The scent profile of woods ranges wildly across the different trees but, they hold all diverse types of fragrances together, like elders in a family.
Choosing the Right Perfume for you based on Perfume Pyramid
Perfume Pyramid along with an understanding of Perfume Concentration and Types of fragrances are excellent basis for choosing the right perfume for you. If you want a long-lasting steady fragrance, then pick a middle note heavy perfume. It is warm and cosy – ideal for a date. Check Dopamine Intimate for Him as an example. Similarly, if you want to make a statement at a party, where people can smell your scent as you walk past them, pick a top note heavy scent. Check out Dopamine Memories for Him.
At Dopamine Perfumes, for instance, we believe that Perfumes & fragrance don’t have to smelt, but they must be felt. And the feeling for each occasion varies. How you want to feel on a date is vastly different from how you want to feel at work or at a party. For a romantic evening, a date perfume should make you feel attractive and impassioned, enhancing your charm. On the other hand, and office perfume should keep you feeling fresh, energized, and professional throughout the day.
Conclusion
Perfume Pyramid or Fragrance Pyramid is a fundamental science in perfumery. Understanding it will be immensely helpful in making an informed choice. It will help in enjoying the entire experience of using a Perfume.
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What Are the Different Types of FragrancesWhen it comes to perfumes, the question ‘what are the types of fragrances?’ can mean one of the two things –
1) What are the different types of Perfumes or 2) What are different types of fragrance notes in a perfume. While both relate to perfumes, both questions have different answers. The answer to fist question - would cover perfume fragrance types in terms of perfume concentration; Eau De Toilette (EDT), Eau De Parfum (EDP) or Extrait De Parfum. We have a detailed blog that covers this aspect of different types of fragrances. Check it out here.
The answer to the second question would cover the types of fragrance notes or fragrance smells in perfumes. The understanding of types of fragrance notes in a perfume, according to us, is the most important as well as interesting aspect of perfumery. And mind you, we are talking from the point of view a perfumer user or customer. Buying a perfume without understanding of the types of fragrances is like going to a music concert without knowing who’s performing. Despite that, in our customer interactions, we realize that the knowledge about types of fragrance notes is half baked and confused. You know, why? Because fragrance descriptions given by international perfume brands are like English literature essays – all fancy & nice but its left to everyone's interpretation.
At Dopamine, simplicity of communication is a promise we have made to ourselves. In this blog, we will explain the different kinds of fragrances in a simple and lucid way. After reading the blog, you will be able to aptly imagine or feel a fragrance simply by reading about the fragrance notes & accords in a perfume, which is very relevant when you are choosing to a buy a perfume online. Read our blog on that here.
What are Fragrance Notes & Accords?
As a first step in understanding types of fragrances, let’s get the basics out of the way. So, what are fragrance notes? Simply put, the smell or scent of the ingredient that you put in a perfume is referred to as its ‘Note.’ The smell of rose when converted to a fragrance or perfume oil, will be referred to as ‘Rose Note’. Now many ingredients go into making a perfume. Hence a perfume consist of different types of fragrance smells i.e. fragrance notes. Easy?
Let’s move on. What is an accord then? When Perfumers develop a scent profile by combining notes of two or more ingredients, it becomes an accord. Such accords developed by experts and are widely accepted and used in the perfumery industry while making perfumes. Imagine a PowerPoint template, for want of simpler analogy. The most famous accord is the masculine ‘fougere’ developed by Houbigant owner Paul Parquet in 1882. He combined the notes of Lavendar, Coumarin and Oakmoss to mimic the smell of freshly cut grass.
What are Fragrance Families?
Ok, let’s take an Indianized analogy for easier understanding – just like Gujaratis are from Gujarat, and Punjabis are from Punjab, notes and accords are broadly classified as belonging to certain ‘Fragrance Family’. This classification is based on certain similar characteristics of each ingredient’s smell. Going deep, just like we have Patels, Shahs and Mehta (sub-families) all falling under ‘Gujaratis’, there are sub families under in each Fragrance family. So, a fragrance family called ‘Fresh’ will have ‘Citrus Oils’, ‘Aquatic or Aqua’ or ‘Green notes.’
Going deeper, just like Gujaratis have Marathi's near them on one side and Marwaris on the other side, Fragrance Families are put next to each other in a Fragrance Wheel based on similarities and characteristics. The most referred to Fragrance Wheel is the one made by Micheal Edward, which can be seen here. This fragrance wheel is an important reference for understanding which notes will go well with each other, just like a colour wheel.
But hey listen, ultimately you are a perfume user, a consumer. So, you don’t have to get to dig more deep than this unless you want to start a perfume business. This elementary understanding is more than enough to understand types of fragrances while making a purchase decision.
What are the different Fragrance Types or Fragrance Families?
As we mentioned earlier, we believe in simplifying communication, and we have made this content from the standpoint of a perfume user – consumer. Therefore, in our explanation of different fragrance families, we have clubbed a few fragrances sub-families together and made a simpler version. This should help you understand relatable and relevant information from the clutter on the net. The following are the main perfume fragrance types:
Fresh
Sub-families – 1) Citrus Oils, 2) Aqua or Marine Notes
Imagine the refreshing, energetic scent of lemon or orange. Yes, that citrusy, tarty, tangy notes. These notes are intense and volatile. Usually used as a Top Note in perfumes. The main profile is based on lemon, orange, bergamot, grapefruit or mandarin. Additionally, Aquatic notes- the refreshing scent of sea or ocean which is very similar in profile to Citrusy notes are also a part of ‘Fresh’ fragrance type.
Floral
Sub-families – 1) Soft Florals, 2) White Florals, 3) Powdery/ Floral Aldehydes
A very popular and widely used fragrance family. This family has a wide range of smells. Given our exposure to flowers, the best way to imagine a floral note mentioned in a perfume composition is to think about how that specific flower smells. Because a Rose’s smell is soft, sweet and musky which is different from Mimosa flowers whose smell is Citrusy, and Jasmine whose smell intense and greener. Some flowers like violet and Iris have a powdery smell.
Aromatic
Sub-families – 1) Green Notes, 2) Herbs, 3) Fourgere Accord
Intense grassy- spicy scents fall under this fragrance type. It’s like combining smells of Fresh Fragrance Family with herbs like anise, rosemary, cumin etc. The best way to imagine this fragrance family is to think about freshly mowed grass. Its intense and masculine.
Amber (also known as Oriental)
Sub-families – 1) Spices, 2) Resins/ Balms
Think of Oriental region. The smell of incense – intense and warm. The smell of Resins like Elemi, Benzoin– balmy and opulent. Basically, scents that have accentuated warmth and sensuality. Includes warm spices like cardamom, saffron etc, and sharp spices clove, cinnamon, pepper. The ingredients belonging to this type of fragrances have been used in perfumery since old times.
Gourmand/ Sweet
Sub-families – 1) Fruits & Nuts, 2) Sugary Food Smells
A tenacious and mouthwatering fragrance family which is very popular in perfumery these days. The Fruity sub-family consists sweeter smells like Plum, Peach and Berries. Some scents of nuts like almond and hazelnuts. The sugary food smells are fragrances are suggestive of foody smells, specifically sweets and desserts, from chocolate to fresh cream to caramel.
Woody
Sub-families – 1) Woods, 2) Mosses, 3) Leather
As the name suggests, ingredients that are earthen, woody and mossy. The smells of nature. The scent profile of woods ranges wildly across the different trees but basically, they hold all different types of fragrances together, like elders in a family. Woods can be resinous, creamy, sometimes rich and sometimes soft. Think of oud perfume or Sandalwood. Vetiver and Patchouli, though not exactly wood, have a similar profile. The same is the case with Leather.
Choosing the right Fragrance Types for you?
While Perfumes have a combination multiple fragrance families, there are only 2 to 3 ingredients/ fragrance that dominate the perfume. The rest of them support the main ingredients. You need to understand if you like the main notes & accords. For e.g., Our vanilla perfume collection features Vanilla as a key ingredient in both Dark Side of Vanilla and Deliciously Spicy. But the difference is Vanilla is the main note in previous one and just a small supporting note in the latter. So, you have read up and imagine the broad type of smell it will be. If you don’t like intense fragrances, then you can stay away from Oriental, Woody families. Contrary to the inherited view about sticking to one fragrance family, you must try various combinations of perfume fragrance types and widen your repertoire.
Fine fragrances offered by Dopamine Shop
At Dopamine Perfumes, for instance, we believe that Perfumes don’t have to smelt, but they must be felt. And the feeling for each occasion varies. How you want to feel on a date is vastly different than how you want to feel at Work, or how you want to feel at a Party.
Every Dopamine Perfume has perfume concentration levels of 25%. Check out our below collections for more details.
Man in the Mirror – Extrait De Parfum collection for him
Magic of Oud – Unisex Oud Collection
Molecules of Mood – Unisex Fine Fragrance
Conclusion
Fragrance Notes, Accords and Families are pillars for different types of fragrances. Type of Fragrances appears daunting, but it is not, once you get your basics right. Knowing about different types of Fragrances is as necessary for a consumer as it is for a Perfumer. The only difference is the depth of knowledge needed between the two. Next time you read about the ingredients of a perfume and fragrance, try to decipher the fragrance families and use the above information as a guiding tool to truly experience the perfume and fragrance.
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How To Choose a Perfume or Fragrance online?Using a Perfume is an experience that evolves over a period. Unlike any other consumer product that you can use mechanically, a perfume grows on you and eventually becomes a part of you. This is because fragrances have a direct connection to mood and feelings. If an analogy had to be made about a Perfume and its user, then we would say, it’s not a fling, it’s a relationship. And hence how to choose perfume is a question that needs an answer, and a well-researched one.
When we meet customers at exhibitions, the most asked question is ‘how do I choose a perfume?’ And on top of it, because we are an online perfume brand, we get asked ‘how do I choose perfume online?’ Very valid questions. And we have very valid answers for these.
Given the importance of these questions, we decided to cover them objectively in this blog so that it reaches more & more perfume lovers. For a better understanding of our answers on how to choose a fragrance, it is imperative to get some facts established. First one being - Perfumes contain scents (also known as notes & accords) of various ingredients and such ingredients are segregated into fragrance families. Read our write-up on Fragrance notes if you want to know more details. And second one being - the scents in Perfumes are bifurcated as Top Notes (they last about15-20 mins), Middle Notes (they last 2-3 hrs) and Base Notes (they last 3- 6 hrs). When you spray a Perfume, it goes through this cycle and eventually evaporates totally. It's also known drying down of a Perfume.
Now if you are wondering how is all this relevant in choosing a perfume, read on
Difference between choosing a Perfume Offline vs Online.
Since you know about Top Notes, Middle Notes & Bottom Notes, let’s decode the Offline or in store Perfume buying process first.
Top Notes hit your nose first when you apply a Perfume first time. Top Notes are intense but evaporate faster – in about 15 -20 mins. What comes out after that are the middle notes – the heart of a Perfume which you can smell for about 3-4 hours after spraying the perfume. When you are assessing Perfumes at a store, you are evaluating a Perfume only on the basis on the Top Notes. Whereas the main heart of the Perfume is the middle note. What if you don’t like the middle note? You won’t be able to realise it till you start wearing it.
Secondly, after smelling 3 or 4 fragrances back-to-back in a store, nose fatigue sets in, which means you cannot interpret any fragrance thoroughly. Thirdly, often, the person at the counter does not either have full understanding of what ‘notes’ and ‘accords’ are present in a Perfume, or he’s not interested in explaining so much detail. Thus, buying a Perfume offline from a store is not optimum.
On the other hand, if you have a decent understanding of notes and accords, you will get more than enough information about each specific variant to be able to assess and visualise the fragrance. Now with this perspective, you will appreciate that when you buy perfume online, you will be able to patiently read the notes and accords, read some reviews, or even get a small pack to try. It opens your mind to purchase perfume online.
While buying Perfume online seems counterintuitive, it does have specific advantages over Offline.
Factors to consider when choosing a Perfume.
Notes & Accords:
The most essential element of how to choose perfume. Perfumes have a combination multiple ingredients and various fragrance families. However, there are only 2 to 3 ingredients that dominate the perfume. The rest of them support the main ingredients. You need to understand if you like the main notes & accords. For e.g., we have Vanilla as ingredient in Dark Side of Vanilla as well as Deliciously Spicy. But the difference is Vanilla is the main note in previous one and just a small supporting note in the latter.
Packaging & Pricing:
‘How do I pick a perfume? the packaging some perfumes looks great.’ We were once asked this. And yes, a great bottle and great packaging can be enticing. But it can be misleading too. Packaging is a non-essential cost that can be controlled and instead funds can be diverted to better quality fragrance oil. Often a fantastic looking perfume bottle which priced average or low, will have a poor-quality product. Just as in life, look for a balance. Our Intimate For Him perfume has an extremely expensive fragrance oil. To ensure we make this luxurious perfume affordable, we have kept our packaging cost under check.
Reviews:
Another blessing of online stores. You get to read reviews. Which obviously doesn’t happen in offline. You can’t imagine other users appearing from behind the shop keeper at the counter and telling you about their experience. Presence of reviews gives a decisive direction to your quest for how to pick a perfume.
Commitment:
Stay with the Perfume that you have bought. Use it for some time. Often, the notes and accords will grow on you. None of us from the founding team had worn an Oud fragrance before. When we started testing it for the market, we used it for some time and now all of us like Oud more than anything else.
The difference between Extrait De Parfum, Eau De Parfum, and Eau De Toilette
Another basic funda which provides valuable insights on how to choose a fragrance, is what type of perfume is it. Every batch of perfume that is manufactured is classified as a certain type/ category of perfume based on IFRA guidelines. These guidelines are based on how much concentrated perfume oil is contained in the bottle. You will recall seeing (and even sometime struggling to pronounce) various labels on perfumes like Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de parfum (EDP) and Parfum.
Extrait De Parfum or Parfum:
Extrait de parfum or Parfum, also known as pure perfume, has the highest fragrance concentration. They contain anywhere from 20% to 30% concentrated perfume oil. Of all categories, Parfum is classified as the longest lasting category. One application can last anywhere between 6 to 9 hrs-a solid performance.
All Dopamine Perfumes belong to Extrait De Parfum category because we add 25% perfume concentration to our perfumes.
Eau De Parfum (EDP):
After parfum, eau de parfum (EDP) has the next highest category in terms of perfume concentration levels. Eau de parfum has a concentrated perfume oil between 15% and 20%. EDP will last anywhere 4 to 6 hrs after one application.
Eau De Toilette (EDT):
Eau de toilette (EDT) (pronounced as U DEY TWALE) has concentrated perfume oil between 5% and 15%. It is cheaper than eau de parfum and is one of the most popular types of fragrance available along with. Naturally, since its less concentrated than even EDPs, they will last between 2 to 4 hrs after one application.
Depending on the weather, occasion, social environment, you can pick the appropriate type of Perfume.
How to find your signature perfume online
With the above the information if the question ‘How do I choose a perfume’ still haunts you when you order fragrance online, please look at the fundamental philosophy of the brand which is selling online perfumes. At Dopamine Perfumes, for instance, we believe that Perfumes don’t have to smelt, but they must be felt. And the feeling for each occasion varies. How you want to feel on a date is vastly different from how you want to feel at work or at a party. For a romantic evening, a date perfume should make you feel attractive and impassioned, enhancing your charm. On the other hand, and office perfume should keep you feeling fresh, energized, and professional throughout the day. Explore our curated collections to find the perfect scent for every occasion!
Man in the Mirror – Extrait De Parfum collection for him.
Magic of Oud – Unisex Oud Collection
Molecules of Mood – Unisex Fine Fragrance
Conclusion
The answer for how to choose perfume lies in many aspects. Whether you are buying offline or online, whether you have adequate information about notes and accords available to you, whether you will be wearing the perfume at work or on a date etc. You must also understand that you will go wrong some time. But the key is to try and try after equipping yourself with all the information we have shared above. Because once you find the perfect perfume, you will have to worry about how to pick a perfume.
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How Perfume Concentration Affects Your Scent ExperiencePerfumes are enigmatic. People love perfumes; it has aspirational value, and it signifies a higher standard of living. Many of them use it regularly and then some of them are self-proclaimed connoisseurs, like wine connoisseurs. However, most of them have limited understanding of how perfumes work, what are the technicalities, and what are differences between the several versions of Perfumes available in the market? The fact remains that, knowing about the basic technical aspects of perfumery, will elevate the scent experience manifold simply because you will be able to make an informed choice. We are of the belief that this education is necessary for a perfume user.
Think this will get too technical (and boring)? Worry not, because when we refer to imparting information on technicalities, we won’t get deep into the chemistry of perfumes; we want you to be an informed user not a seasoned nose! We promise to keep it simple.
One important aspect of Perfume which is important to understand as a user has do with perfume concentration. This single piece of understanding will change the way you select and buy perfumes. Knowing about perfume concentration levels is as simple, and as important as knowing whether you are drinking a small peg of Tequila or a large peg! In this blog, we will simply this concept of perfume concentration levels. Save this blog as your go to information piece – your fragrance concentration guide.
Understanding Perfume Concentration
The basic raw material for perfumers is fragrance oil. This oil is derived directly from the ingredients, like distillation of rose petals, or the oil is lab made using safe synthetics approved by International Fragrance Association (IFRA). No matter how its derived, this fragrance oil is the blend which emanates fragrance when applied. This is known concentrated perfume oil. If you know of attars, they are nothing but 100% perfume concentration, usually consisting of oil derived naturally (not lab made). But it’s difficult to create of blend of multiple scents in an attar (like mixing sandalwood oil with rose oil or jasmine oil). It also difficult to replicate certain notes – like aqua, green notes etc. The application of an attar is also a bit inconvenient as it comes in roll on of concentrated perfume oils.
Enter modern perfumery technique. Simply put, concentrated perfume oil is blended with soluble and fixative – mainly alcohol and other pre-approved chemicals. This enables blending multiple fragrance notes and eases the usage for the consumer – simply press the nozzle. But then the next question is how much oil to be put and how much soluble to be put? That’s the science which has evolved over a period. IFRA, the governing body has categorized diverse types of perfumes based on the perfume concentration levels held in each bottle. Let’s understand more about perfume concentration.
Types of Perfume Concentration
Every batch of perfume that is manufactured is classified as a certain type/ category of perfume based on IFRA guidelines. These guidelines are purely based on how much concentrated perfume oil is contained in the bottle. You will recall seeing (and even sometime struggling to pronounce) various labels on perfumes like Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de parfum (EDP) and Parfum. These are the various categories of perfumes or types of perfumes. And to reiterate, the differentiation point between them is the perfume concentration levels.
Extrait De Parfum or Parfum
Extrait de parfum or Parfum, also known as pure perfume, has the highest fragrance concentration. They contain anywhere from 20% to 30% concentrated perfume oil. Of all categories, Parfum is classified as the longest lasting category. One application can last anywhere between 6 to 9 hrs-a solid performance. ‘Parfum’ is often confused with ‘Perfumes’ which is colloquially used to denote ALL types. But you are wiser now. Extrait De Parfums are most expensive of the lot as fragrances are most expensive raw material of perfumes.
For the mathematically inclined, a 100 ml Parfum bottles will contain 20 to 30 ml of fragrance concentration and consecutively less alcohol, which is also good.
All Dopamine Perfumes belong to Extrait De Parfum category because we add 25% perfume concentration to our perfumes.
Eau De Parfum (EDP)
After parfum, eau de parfum (EDP) has the next highest category in terms of perfume concentration levels. Eau de parfum has a concentrated perfume oil between 15% and 20%. EDP will last anywhere 4 to 6 hrs after one application. EDPs are currently most popular category in the world.
Eau De Toilette (EDT)
Eau de toilette (EDT) (pronounced as U DEY TWALE) has concentrated perfume oil between 5% and 15%. It is cheaper than eau de parfum and is one of the most popular types of fragrance available along with. Naturally, since its less concentrated than even EDPs, they will last between 2 to 4 hrs after one application.
Eau De Cologne
Eau de cologne has a far lower concentration of fragrance than the above types of perfume. EDC generally has a 2% to 5% percent concentration levels and high concentration of alcohol and other soluble. It won’t last more than two hours.
Choosing The Right Concentration For Your Needs
We know what you are thinking. If Extrait De Parfum is a higher category why is Eau De Parfum and Eau De Toilette more popular?
You must understand two factors here the evolution of modern-day perfumes and the impact of weather on the longevity. It’s the Western countries that have truly evolved in terms of designing fragrances and most of them have harmonious climate - less heat and humidity both of which impact the how long and how well the fragrance stays on your skin.
So how to choose? When you spray a perfume on your pulse point, it reacts with heat and release fragrance. Now, Perfume became popular through the European Continent, which is predominantly a winter climate, means it has less heat. So, an EDP works fine there.
However, if you look at India, it has a tropical climate hence an Extrait De Parfum with high perfume concentration levels will perform better here. With lifestyle and aspirations fast changing in counties like India which has a tropical climate, we will see more version of Extrait De Parfums coming out. And it makes sense too.
Best High Concentration Perfume To Buy From Dopamineshop
Perfume concentration was the most crucial point of differentiation for us at Dopamine Shop. We knew that since we are based in India, we will have to nullify the impact of weather with high concentration perfume. Hence every Dopamine Perfume has perfume concentration levels of 25%. Check out our below collections for more details.
Man in the Mirror – Extrait De Parfum collection for him
Magic of Oud – Unisex Oud Collection
Molecules of Mood – Unisex Fine Fragrance
Conclusion
Concentrated Perfume Oil also known as Fragrance Oil is the main actor or the hero in Perfumes. Solvents and Fixative are supporting actors. The quantity of perfume concentration in a perfume bottle is what defines the above category names (think about small and large pegs while drinking).
Based on the bracket of concentrated perfume oil, a Perfume becomes an Extrait or EDP or EDT. You don’t have to be Sherlock to figure out that the category that has the highest concentration perfume will last the longest and will also be expensive. Now, some might associate that high concentration with a strong smell but that’s far from the truth. We can have a mild pleasing fragrance, but it will last long because of the higher concentration perfume in the bottle.
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Valentine’s Day – 5 Perfect Perfumes for Valentine’s DayValentine’s Day has transformed February into a season of love. There’s much anticipation in the air because you have been planning for the penultimate day when you meet your loved ones, exchange gifts (many of them exchange vows also), spend some quality time, make emotional decisions etc. You want to look and feel smashing that day and you also want to give your loved ones the bets Valentine’s Day gift. From both points of view, perfumes fit in perfectly. In fact, Perfumes & Fragrances are one of the most popular gift choices for Valentine’s Day across the world.
From a gifting point of view, Perfumes are apt because it’s a deeply personal and intimate gift. A carefully picked up Valentine’s Day perfume gift can very well become a means of communicating intimacy and sensuality without the need for explicitly saying so. The whiff of the fragrance that has the right kind of notes and accords associated with romance, can work wonders as the best Valentine’s gift.
And on the other hand, perfume that you choose to wear as you date perfume can evoke the perfect feeling within you to make a mark with your loved ones when you meet for Valentine’s Day. In either situation, be it for wearing or gifting, it is important to understand what fragrances make the cut as the best valentine perfume. Read on before you pick your Valentine’s Day Perfume.
Why Choosing the Right Perfume Matters for Valentine’s Day?
You not only need to dress well on Valentine’s Day, but you also need feel good to have a perfect date. Imagine yourself in a frame of mind of feeling attractive, confident, and impassioned. How would the date do? That’s where the choice of right fragrance comes in. Wearing a carefully chosen Valentine’s Day Perfume, will not only make you feel good about yourself, but it will also evoke the same feeling in your partner’s mind. The best Valentine Perfume is the one which subtly, non-intrusively communicates your feelings. Fragrances have a powerful connection to mood. Certain aromas can trigger just the right feeling needed for a date. For e.g., a Vanilla fragrance evokes sense of affection and warmth. Hence a Valentine’s Day Perfume must have the right notes and accords needed for a date night fragrance. It can be the difference between an average Valentine’s Day and a memorable, passionate one. Even as a gifting option for your loved ones, the best valentine perfume must not only smell great, but it should also evoke the right kind of feeling in you and your partner.
What are some Romantic Fragrance Notes in Perfumes?
At Dopamine Perfumes, we believe that Perfumes don’t have to smelt, but they must be felt. How you want to feel on a date is vastly different than how you want to feel at Work, or how you want to feel at a Party. On a date, you would want to feel attractive and impassioned, whereas at work you would want to feel energized and pleasing. The olfactory impact of various ingredients in a perfume varies a lot. Every note and every accord have a different intensity, different tenacity, it evokes different feelings. Your date night perfume should have those notes and accords that are tenacious (long lasting in simple terms) and evoke a sense of warmth and seduction. Some of the fragrance notes that evoke a sensual, passionate and cozy feeling are Vanilla Fragrance, Musk Fragrance, Lavender Fragrance, and Warm Spices Fragrance like Cinnamon Fragrance, Clove Fragrance, and Nutmeg Fragrance, along with Woody Fragrances like Oud Fragrance and Sandalwood Fragrance, are perfect for creating a warm and inviting aura. Rose Fragrance and Saffron Fragrance notes also add a strong touch of romance to the perfume. A consistent whiff of such scent while you are experiencing the pleasure of dating is the best thing that can happen to you and your partner. So, make sure you do not mix up your daily perfume wear as apt for Valentine’s Day. Always designate a Perfume exclusively for your loved one. Pick your Valentine’s Day perfume based on one or two of the above Fragrance notes mentioned.
Our Top 5 Fragrances to make your Valentine’s Day Unforgettable
At Dopamine Shop, in each of our collection – be it Mystery of Oud or Molecules of Mood, every collection has a specifically curated date perfume which is wonderful choice for Valentine’s Day. Our fundamental thought behind curating the best perfume for Valentine’s Day was to centre the fragrance around the middle notes. That’s because Middle note or heart notes start to make an appearance after Top Notes fades and are its peak for 2-3 hours after that. We believe that the Valentine’s Day perfume should peak when you are spending time with your loved ones. A top note heavy perfume would peak almost immediately after applying and by the time you are in the thick of things (pun unintended), the perfume would be in its dry down phase.
Here are our Top 5 Fragrances to make your Valentine’s Day unforgettable:
1. Intimate For Him:
Our highest selling Perfume from our Man in the Mirror ‘For Him’ Collection, Intimate For Him, is curated exclusively for wearing on a date. It has the warm spicy and aromatic combination of spicy and woody with just a perfect touch of sweetness. This intoxicating scent is an ideal Valentine’s Day gift too.
2. Dark Side of Vanilla:
An intensely sweet perfume. It blends the warm sweetness of Vanilla with the Intensity of Tobacco. A heady and addictive scent that will make you and your loved one feel warm and cozy. Snuggle up!
3. Between You & Me:
With the intense Lavender and Nutmeg combination, there will be nothing left to express between you and your loved ones. This perfume has almost an unremarkable top note. But the middle steadily and surely grows on you. The perfect choice for perfume for Valentine’s Day.
4. Oud Passion:
Oud in its quintessential form - warm spicy, mildly floral, a bit sweet & woody. Its deep, rich, textured and addictive. Its closest to Oud in its natural form. The blend has Nutmeg and Lavender as its key pillars. It’s Warm, its Spicy and its Deep!
5. Oud Cardinal:
Oud with a floral footprint is the most apt way to define it. The blend, inspired by the orange chakra linked to sensuality, has Damascus rose and saffron as key partners to Oud. It is Warm, its Intimate and its Sensual!
How to Pick Out the Perfect Scent for Valentine’s Day from Dopamine Shop
The smartest way to pick out Valentine’s Day perfume is by understanding what notes and accords evoke the right kind of feelings. You need to bear in mind that the notes in the date perfume are tenacious and stay on you till as long as the date lasts, or if it’s a great date, even after. Fragrances have a powerful connection to mood. Certain aromas can trigger just the right feeling needed for a date. For e.g., a Vanilla fragrance evokes sense of affection and warmth. Unisex Perfumes these days are regarded by many of our customers as best Valentine’s Perfume because the same unisex perfume can be worn by both; an extremely intimate thing to do. What’s more the scent, will remind you of your loved ones even if they are away from you.
Conclusion:
Whether it’s your first Valentine’s date or nth one, you will want to show up as the best version of yourself. You not only need to dress well, but you also need feel good to have a perfect date. How you feel on a date is most underrated aspect of dating. Imagine if you could feel attractive, confident, and impassioned. How would that Valentine’s date go? That’s where the choice of right Valentine’s Day Perfume comes in. Wearing a carefully chosen date perfume, will not only make you feel good about yourself, but it will also evoke the same feeling in your partner’s mind.
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What are the most popular notes in a perfume?Fragrance descriptions for perfumes are like English literature essays – all fancy & nice but difficult to decipher! Many of us get overwhelmed with the description of ‘notes’ and ‘accords’ and ‘fragrance families’ being talked about with reference to Perfumes. The experience of smelling and selecting a perfume stands on the fundamental awareness of these aspects. If you are searching for popular fragrance on the internet, these terms will be thrown at you in every piece of information that’s there. You will read about Fresh Notes, Floral notes or even a Chypre accord. There will be terms like top notes, middles notes, and bottom notes used everywhere. And in all this technical jugglery, you will be too lost to remember that you were only looking for a popular fragrance in perfume. At Dopamine, simplicity of communication is an important promise we have made to ourselves. Understanding details is important, we agree, but it does not have to be complicated. So, before we provide information about the most popular fragrance in a perfume, lets first understand technical terms like fragrance notes and accords in a simple and succinct way. The art and science of perfumery is built around notes and accords, and we will throw more light on this matter. But remember, as a customer you need this information to choose a perfume, not to manufacture one. So you must read it with the focus on keeping your interpretation simple.
What are Fragrance Notes?
Simply put, several ingredients (rose, saffron, citrus, orange etc) are combined to make a perfume. Each Ingredients has its own distinct scent. The scent of each such ingredient is referred to as a ‘note.’ Easy enough? Let’s dig a little deeper. Over a period, perfumers started discovering newer fragrance notes. Initially it was all about scents of natural elements. Then lab made elements started coming in because, counter intuitive as it may sound, the natural scents were ecologically not viable. So, the repertoire of notes increased – have you heard of Aqua note? Well, you cannot technically distil scent out of water, right? Aqua note is a lab made note to replicate the natural fragrance. Then some legendary perfumers combined notes to develop ‘accords’ (combination of two or more notes) E.g., Fougere, Chypre. Companies started adding such popular accords with other notes to make various variants of Perfume. Going further, in order to enable easier, understand and referencing of notes, similar smelling notes (e.g. citrus & orange or wood & patchouli) were clubbed into ‘fragrance families.’ Thus, came about groupings of 8 to 14 (depending on who the classifier is) fragrance families. The purpose of this was to enable customers find a perfume with the family of fragrance note they like. Popular perfume notes are these days popularly classified into families e.g., Citrus, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Aqua belong to Fresh Family. Jasmine, Neroli, Tuberose are a popular fragrance set called White Florals. Resins & Spices are oriental perfume notes etc.
What are the Three Main Notes Categories?
Now that you know what fragrance notes and accords are, you are in a better position to understand what are Top Notes, Middle Notes and Bottom Notes. The grouping of notes into fragrance families is based on how similar they smell to each other, and what characteristics they display – as in how intense they are and how tenacious (long lasting) they are. Woody fragrance family for instance contains notes that may not be intense – they don’t overpower you instantly, but they play out on your skin gradually. Hence, they are considered less intense but more tenacious. Fresh Notes like Citrus and Aqua work exactly the opposite way. Hence for truly magical experience, a perfumer often combines fragrance notes of distinct characteristics. That’s where Top Notes, Middle Notes and Base Notes come in. It’s a sort of a different prism to view the fragrance note.
Top Notes
Also known as opening notes or head notes, these are lightest of all the notes in the pyramid of a perfume. But they are very intense. They are meant to make a mark. When you smell a perfume for the first time, you are smelling the top note. However, these fragrance notes do not have tenacity and are the first to fade. They usually don’t last more than 15 minutes.
Middle Notes
The Middle note or heart notes start to make an appearance while the top notes fade away. They are always there when you spray the perfume but because of the intensity of the top notes, you can’t immediately smell them. Such fragrance notes are more intense than base notes and more tenacious than top notes. They are the main part of the perfume – the fragrance at its peak. After about 2-3 hours they deign to fade away to make way for the base fragrance note.
Base Notes
Base notes are like the happy endings in a movie. Where the top notes introduce the popular fragrance notes in the perfume, base notes are associated with the dry-down period of the fragrance. With base notes you will experience the lasting impression of the perfume. These fragrance notes are often rich and smooth.
You can check out our link about Fragrance Guide to round up your understanding about notes and accords.
What are some of the Popular Fragrance Notes?
Now that you have a handy understanding of notes, accords and fragrance families. Let us look at some of the popular fragrance notes.
The accord of Rose flower or Rose smell can be described as floral, delicate, soft, and fruity. Ten out of ten people will associate this olfactory accord with timelessness, luxury, beauty, and romance. When combined with other fragrance family ingredients, it can transform to powdery, musky, and even spicy woody. Rose fragrances have started featuring increasingly in Unisex perfumes and men’s fragrances too. Rose Perfumes are, therefore, unmatchable in any bouquets of perfume notes – from fresh fragrances to deeply floral, from heady, opulent scents to subtle musky version. Check out Dopamine Perfumes consisting of Rose as its dominant fragrance.
Lavendar scents are characterized by aromatic, clean, and floral notes that tend to evolve into camphoric and licoricey facet. It also possesses strong nuances of being green (think of freshly cut hey), herbal and sweet notes. Due its complex & foreboding nature, Lavendar fragrance perfumes are sophisticated and intoxicating. They blend well with other notes and are usually combined with citrus notes, woody notes, and spicy notes with great ease. Lavendar Perfumes are, therefore, an extremely popular choice for many different bouquets of perfumes – from fresh fragrances to deeply floral, from heady, opulent scents to subtle musky version. Check out Dopamine Perfumes consisting of Lavender as its dominant fragrance.
Jasmine scents are heady and intense floral notes that tend to evolve into musky and powdery nuance. It also possesses subtle nuances of being green (think of freshly cut hey), herbal and sweet notes. Due its versatility. Jasmine fragrance perfumes are rich and intoxicating. They evoke an extremely refreshing feeling. Jasmine fragrance also can blend well with other notes and enhance its long lastingness. Check out Dopamine Perfumes consisting of Jasmine as its dominant fragrance.
Originally associated with women’s fragrances, Vanilla is finding its way into Unisex as well as Men’s fragrances. Be it Vanilla Perfume for women or Vanilla Perfume for men, each of them has a powerful trigger to mood and memory simply because of the association Vanilla brings with it. At Dopamine shop our basic principle in selecting a fragrance is ‘how it makes you feel’ and that is why we love Vanilla base fragrances. Vanilla Fragrance Perfumes not only add sweetness to perfumes, but they also evoke a deep sense of warmth, cosiness, intimacy, and comfort. It is also associated with luxury and lifestyle. And boy, Vanilla fragrances are exceptionally long-lasting! Choosing Vanilla in a perfume is picking up the best of every aspects – fragrance, feeling and sophistication.
An extremely popular note, Oud fragrance is a part of the culture in the Middle East and its only recently that it has started gaining immense popularity due its fragrance profile; it can be best defined as woody, earthy, musky, and dark, evoking a sense of intimacy. Given this increased demand and its rarity as a resource, it can get expensive to manufacture. Oud fragrance, while classified as woody, has oriental characteristic too. An oud perfume user discovers quickly that it can linger on and on your skin, with myriad textures depending on the body heat. It also takes on some characters of its other ingredients giving it a versatile and mysterious allure. This combination makes Oud Perfumes an excellent choice is one is looking for luxury and long-lasting features.
Shop Your Favourite Notes at Dopamine Shop
At Dopamine Shop, we have curated the best perfume collection by blending popular fragrance notes with complementary, modern aromas to create a world-class range of Extrait De Parfum. Discover amazing options featuring combinations of popular perfume notes in our exclusive ranges of perfume for him, perfume for her, and unisex perfume.
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Couple Perfumes: Emerging Trends in ScentsCouples are as omnipresent as Water. You look around and you will find someone who’s dating, someone who’s engaged, or recently married, or celebrating number of years together. If there are couples, there will be intimacy, closeness, attraction, memories, and gifting. And if there are these dynamics, perfumes and fragrances will always have a special place. Couple perfumes are, in fact, one of the most intimate and personal items around. Fragrances trigger memories and stimulate mood. The impact of fragrances can be as cardinal as creating raw attraction or it can be as romantic as reminding of your loved ones in their absence. Couple fragrance can become a common identity for them.
It’s 2025. So, where do we stand as far as couple perfumes go? While the requirement of best couple perfume still shines out brightly for marketers, over a period, the type of perfumes and fragrances involved in couple perfume keep changing as per changing trends. The day of searching for the best his & her perfume set are becoming rarer. The trend is moving towards niche and artisanal fragrances that can be used by both. Call it social change or call it better ability to create scents, fact remains that the couple perfume market has evolved leaps and bounds.
Gender Neutral Fragrances: The trend of Unisex perfumes
Imagine wearing the same perfume as your loved one. The feeling of intimacy and closeness it brings with it is unmatched. Unisex fragrances are the newest trends in couple perfumes. The chief reason is that the gap between gender-specific perfumes and unisex perfumes is closing and closing fast. The growth of artisan or niche perfume brands has acted as the wind beneath the wings of unisex perfumes. Niche perfume brands like Dopamine Perfumes have both the ability and drive to make the best unisex fragrances as compared to large conglomerates who often introduce unisex perfumes to mark a mere presence in the category. Traditionally, his & hers perfumes stuck to using notes and accords perceived as ‘for male’ and ‘for female’ thereby creating different fragrances for each. Unisex fragrances as couple perfumes on the other hand do not restrict to the ‘male’ and ‘female’ blends which not only provides newer scent versions but also enables a couple of share the same fragrance; an incredibly romantic thing to do.
Why choose a Couple’s Perfume
Aside from being an aspirational product, Perfumes are deeply personal. Since fragrances have a direct relation to memories and mood, the olfactory experience of perfume is intimate. When you apply this understanding to Couples who undoubtedly are close to each other, gifting and wearing perfumes chosen by your loved one, becomes a lovely experience. Couple Perfume is a tacit way of expressing love and commitment. Another important aspect is that the fragrance becomes an identity of your loved one. A whiff of that fragrance will trigger happy feelings. Given the trend of Unisex couple fragrances, smelling that same perfume on yourself will serve a great reminder of your loved one. Couple Perfume is also an excellent gifting option for your near and dear ones. Its one such gift that is luxurious. Both individuals get covered in the same gift but at the same time it feels personal to each. Chekout Dopamineshop’s oud Perfume Gift set.
How to select the best couple perfume
When selecting the best couple perfumes, the first decision revolves around choosing between a traditional perfume for him and perfume for her set or opting for a pair of unisex couple perfumes. Niche perfume brands like Dopamine Perfumes have both the ability and drive to make the best unisex fragrances owing to their lean structure and direct connection to customers. We would pick a unisex couple perfume set over the traditional one hands down. And when it comes to selecting the best unisex couple perfume, one should check if such a perfume collection has notes and accords that can appeal to both genders? Has enough research been done by the brand while developing unisex perfumes? If floral, powdery perfumes are quintessentially women’s perfumes, and if woody, musky perfumes are male, unisex fragrances cater to the large section in between. And that’s where its beauty lies. Luxury unisex perfumes mix and match various such ingredients to arrive at an optimal bouquet of fragrance that would appeal to both and go on to become best unisex scents
Best Unisex Scents for couple perfume
While designing unisex perfumes, the one aspect that we have kept in mind at Dopamine Perfumes is the usage occasion. Both genders have similar objectives of using perfumes when you look at it from the prism of usage. At work, both genders want to be subtle and pleasing. At a party, they want a fragrance with great diffusion. On a date, they want to feel attractive. Our curation for unisex scents is based on this logic. The best unisex scents are the ones that contain notes and accords to meet these requirements. Take our new range of Unisex Perfumes as a case in point. So, when deciding for the top unisex fragrance always evaluate it from the usage point of view and you will always have a winning choice. Unlikely as it may appear, Oud as an anchor ingredient is also great for unisex luxury perfumes. Its counter-intuitive to think that Oud, a historically male-perceived ingredient, will be liked by women too. However, we have seen that if paired it with Rose Note Perfume, Saffron Note Perfume, or Lavender Note Perfume, etc, it generates great appeal as best unisex scents. Here are some of our Unisex Scents to consider
Kissed by the Sea
Kissed by the Sea is a refreshing blend created with Aqua, Bergamot & Patchouli. A whiff this unisex scent will transport you on vacation.
Between You & Me
Between You & Me is a cosy unisex blend with Lavender, Nutmeg & Vetiver. As the scent hits your nose, your mind will smell the warm embrace of your beloved.
Dark Side of Vanilla
Dark Side of Vanilla is a statement unisex scent. Period. With Tobacco Leaf, Vanilla, and Wood. A classy diffusion that’s spread across the room turning heads toward you
Deliciously Spicy
“Why so serious?” is the right question that goes with this playful unisex scent made up of spices cinnamon, saffron, and tobacco. Dopamineshop’s Deliciously Spicy Perfume is so delicious that you will want to eat it.
Tips for wearing couple perfume
The simplest way to put it is, you wear a couple perfume on two occasions - when you are together and when you are not. That’s how universal couple fragrance is. When you wear it together, it has great intimacy and closeness experience associated with it. And when you wear it while away from each other, it reminds you of them. Having said that, a great way to explore couple perfume is to select a range of unisex perfumes that can be used for separate occasions. A separate one for office, a different one for parties and a special one when both of you are alone. As compared to picking best his and hers perfumes, go the best gender-neutral perfumes and use the above tips to wear them – make the most of your couple fragrance.
Conclusion
When it comes to couple perfume, unisex scents can truly embody the essence of a couple's fragrance, offering the best perfume experience with their versatile usage and diverse range of notes and accords. As compared to his and her perfume sets that have been traditionally available, unisex scents are far more intimate and personal. They are our choice for the best couple perfume. Go ahead and choose the best couple perfume and fill fragrance in this life journey with your loved ones.
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Perfumes: The Ultimate Christmas Gift Sets for Him & HerIf people were asked to describe Christmas festival, you would hear words like cheer, joy, get togethers, parties, red, green, cookies, cakes, and their aroma. Christmas is the most popular and widely celebrated festivals around the entire world. Pure Joie De Vivre! And there are gifts galore during Christmas. Christmas gifts embody the spirit of the festival. But gifting for your near and dear ones is both exciting and tricky in equal measures. Exciting because you want the gift to be exclusive, personal & demonstrative of your love for them. Tricky because you need to choose one! Whatever you buy should be likeable and hold high perceived value; it should be luxurious and aspirational.
No wonder then, when it comes to Christmas Gift Sets, perfumes, more particularly perfume gift sets are one of the highest gifted items across the world. Perfume gift sets for men and perfume gift sets for women are not only luxurious they also underscore a good lifestyle and status. With the market being flooded with the diverse options for Christmas Gift Sets, it’s important to understand that perfume gift sets are true to the spirit of the festival, they also bring about cheer and happiness. However, it’s important that you pick perfume gift sets where you are assured about the quality. If there are specific deals available, then you can get a nice gift set where the receiver gets the full price worth of products, and you save some money too.
Why Choose Perfume Gift Sets for Christmas?
As a festival, Christmas is associated with joy, celebration and coming together of loved ones. It signifies new beginnings and gratitude for the loved ones – friends and family. As an expression of this mood, we indulge in decorating our houses, dressing up ourselves, and making merry. As a powerful complement to these visual forms of expression, fragrances become the non-visual form of expression. Fragrances have a powerful connection to mood and this nonvisual form of expression complements & completes the celebrative atmosphere. Christmas gift for her and for him consisting of perfumes are our way of our telling our loved ones to go out and express themselves and elevate their mood. It is often said that eatables and perishables as Christmas Gift items tend to go waste and lead to spoilage. More importantly, they don’t feel personal. On the other hand, perfumes as Christmas gift ideas feel personal and intimate.
How to Choose the Perfect Perfume Gift Sets
As a personal care product, Perfumes signify luxury, class, and sophistication. There is a lot of aspirational value attached to a perfume. As much as that is true, Perfumes are also purchased on impulse; it’s a not a planned purchase. Nobody really steps out to buy a perfume, like they step out to buy, let’s say, clothes. These two points, make perfumes as an excellent choice as a Christmas Gift item. When your loved once receive it as a gift, it meets their aspirational value. It assigns a status symbol to both the receiver and giver. And because of how we purchase perfumes, there will always be an unmet need for it – they’re going to say, ‘Oh yes, I needed a perfume’ With this in mind, selecting the perfume gift set for Christmas should come across as expensive, classy looking, and it should consist of a good combination of complementary products – Like Perfume + Deo, or Perfume for Him & Her.
Top Perfume Gift Sets for Christmas
Another aspect of the perfumes and fragrances as gift items for Christmas is the fact that it can cover gifting for all relationships. Perfumes as a Christmas gift idea bring universal appeal with it and therefore ease of managing the complex task of personalized gifts. Be it teenagers who will find the best Christmas gift set in a fragrant deodorant set or married couple who can be given a couple perfume gift set. If one wants to specifically look at Gift sets for her Christmas or Gift sets for him Christmas, they can look at combination of Unisex Perfume Gift Sets as a common choice too. Unisex Perfume Gift Sets Dopamine’s Oud Parfum & Deo, Gift Set, offer a great option to use it effectively as best Christmas gift sets for her as well as best Christmas gift sets for him. Finally, the best Christmas gift set in perfumes should provide for great festive deals which will ensure saving for the giver and value for the receiver, in true Christmas spirit. At Dopamine Perfumes, you can get fragrance gift sets in multiple options covering Christmas gift set requirements for the season.
The Perfume Gift Sets at Dopamineshop are well thought in terms of aesthetics as well as SKU combination. As a Christmas gift set choice, perfumes carry a high perceived value because of its product quality - all our perfumes are in the Extrait De Parfum category. We also have some fancy brand merchandise which accompanies our high value perfume gift sets.
Check out our top perfume gift sets
- Best Christmas Gift Set for Him - Our Men's fragrance set consisting a 100 ML For Him Perfume + a 150 ML Deodorant, both made from the same fragrance making it a perfect layering choice.
- Christmas Gift Set for Her - Our Oud Parfum Triplet Gift Set is an elitist gift set that is ideal for a discerning user as it has Oud in three exquisite combinations of notes and accords.
- Christmas Gift Set for Men, or should we say, Boys? - Our Big Boys Grooming pack of 4 Deos in a cool travel pouch is absolutely bang for the buck and ideal for gifting to youngsters.
- Our Oud Parfum Gift Box, a Unisex range consisting of an Oud Perfume combined with Oud Deodorant of the same fragrance. Its apt for urbane people who love to flash their style. Its the Best Christmas Gift Set in our collection
Conclusion
When it comes to gift items for Christmas gift sets, perfume gift sets become a fantastic choice for multiple reasons – aspirational value and status symbol associated with it, the importance of fragrance attached to the festival, the ease of selection across relationships and gender, and many more. Perfumes & Fragrances rank as the most preferred gift choice for best Christmas gift sets. Go ahead and choose the best perfume for a gift to make this Christmas a fragrant and memorable occasion for your loved ones.
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Best Luxury Perfumes for Men: Elevate Your Fragrance GameMen love style and stature, and in this quest, there is one product that can give that feeling independent of how a man dresses up - a perfume. A good luxury fragrance elevates not only how you feel about yourself, but it also changes how others perceive you. It can become your style statement; your tacit personal expression of who you are. But how does one find the best luxury perfume for men? How does one know which scent to pick from so many luxury perfume brands for male. As is the case with our blogs, we will view this matter from the lens of Indian consumers. A burgeoning young population with growing income has translated into higher awareness and spends on personal grooming. Wearing the best luxury perfumes for him requires a better understanding of what defines luxury perfume fragrances and how to find your own signature scent. There is also the perception that the more expensive the perfume, the more luxurious it will be. Or simply, an international perfume brand automatically qualifies as being a part of top luxury perfumes for men. In this article, we try to deconstruct the art of selecting the best luxury perfume for men by rebuffing myths and highlighting the notes and accords that work well when it comes to best luxury perfume for men.
What to look in a high-quality Men’s fragrance brand?
At the outset, step back from associating high price and foreign brand tag from being luxury. An imported brand does not necessarily mean its fragrance is luxurious. Even oversea, there are mid-range brands that operate in each product category. They appear more expensive because of the extra cost associated of selling them in India. Similarly, extremely expensive perfumes do not necessarily mean that they are the best luxury perfumes for men. This is because a lot of cost is spent by them on non-essential items of the product like flashy bottles and fancy packaging. Instead, look for what notes and accords does a perfume provide. Is it trendy and modern? Look for what kind of perfume type is being sold – is it Eau De Parfum (more popular but with less fragrance oils) or Extrait De Parfum (higher concentration, more expensive to make but ideal for tropical weather conditions, like in India)
There are a lot of artisanal or niche perfume brands like Dopamine Perfumes that have emerged on the Indian Fragrance Landscape. At Dopamine, for instance, we cut back on non-essential cost and divert funds towards making Extraits with quality raw material. This provides value at a much lesser cost.
How to select your fragrance – Tips for top luxury perfumes for men.
The best luxury perfumes for him centre around certain types of notes and accords that resonate with Men. Historically, certain groupings of notes and accords are regarded by the fragrance industry as being suitable for Men. With changing times, newer modern variations of such scents keep developing. Here’s what you need to look for.
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When will you use the perfume:
How you want to smell at work is different than how you want to smell at a party. At work, you prefer subtle, pleasing, and light fragrances which do not overpower the surrounding. Whereas at a party you will want to make a statement with your scent. On a date, you will want to wear something warm and cosy. Pick the scent according to the usage.
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Study the notes and accords:
A regular perfume user will gravitate towards a certain profile. If you have used a luxury perfume in the past, have a look at what notes and accords it contained. Then see the various combinations available for those ingredients. Let’s say, you resonate more with Lavender Perfume as the keynote in the fragrance, then look fragrance combination available with Lavender, like Lavender & Nutmeg or Lavender Perfume and Jasmine Perfume etc.
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Look for higher concentration of Oils:
Luxury fragrances are perceived to be heavier, dark, and long lasting. It will help your choice immensely if you look for Extrait De Parfum as it will be the best long lasting luxury perfume. International Fragrance Association (IFRA) classifies perfume with higher than 20% concentration of fragrance oils as Extrait De Parfum. Extraits are one notch higher than Eau De Parfum. They are also more expensive to make. Extraits, by virtue of containing more, oils will last longer.
Top luxury Perfumes for Men
At Dopamine Perfumes, we believe that the whole chemistry of scents plays out in conjunction with your skin and your mind. The scents evaporate and release their aroma when they encounter your skin. But its your mind that perceives the smell. Its scientifically proven that fragrances have a direct connection with mood. Hence our motto has been ‘perfumes should be flet, not smelt’ This sets apart our best luxury perfumes for men from the others. All our perfumes are also Extrait De Parfum keeping in mind the hot climate in India. And lastly, our range of best luxury fragrance for him is developed on the basis on the usage occasion. Our Man in The Mirror Collection is the truly a well thought our range of luxury perfumes for men.
Dopamine Success for Him
Dopamine Success for Him is a refreshing and dazzling luxury fragrance that brings out the fresh, citrusy aspects of Mandarin Orange, Jasmine and Neroli. This scent in noticeable but in a subtly pleasing way; not overpowering, which makes it is ideal for office wear.
Dopamine Memories for Him
Dopamine Memories for Him is a Powerful combination of Leather & Green Notes combined with Ozonic notes of Violet Leaves and a touch of Mandarin Orange & Bergamot. This one is perfect for wearing at a party or social event.
Dopamine Intimate for Him
Dopamine Intimate for Him is Our bestselling one. The perfect choice for a date or romantic evening. A touch seduction and warmth. Powdery & Intense floral notes of Iris, Lavender combined with spicy & earthy notes of Cardamom, Vetiver, and Coriander & a touch of Vanilla.
Dopamine Driven for Him
Dopamine Driven for Him is a Refreshing note of Grapefruit, Orange combined with Spicy notes of Pepper, Elemi under an overarching woody fragrance of Vetiver, Patchouli and Cedar. Curated for daily wear agnostic of summer or winter season.
How to choose the right luxury perfume.
While we have listed the tips for finding your signature scent above, choosing the right luxury perfume will be journey of its own. You will never be able to identify your signature scent by smelling strip at the store. That is just the top note of the perfume that you smell. And trust us, after smelling 3 or 4 fragrances, nose fatigue sets in, which means you can interpret the fragrance thoroughly. Instead, be aware about the ingredients or notes and accords that you like. Study the fragrance – online luxury Indian perfume brands like Dopamine provides a lot of information to assist decisioning. Lastly, wear the perfume for a few days and observe how it makes you feel. Top luxury perfumes for men evolve over a period with usage. Therefore, keep trying new perfumes.
Conclusion:
The secrets behind finding your signature scent and the top luxury fragrances for men is rooted in understanding key aspects of fragrances better and eliminating the lure of price tag, fancy bottles, and flashy packaging. Stick to the basics as explained above and make your own list of best luxury fragrances for him.
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How to apply Perfume: Tips for Maximum ImpactPerfume is a highly aspirational product. It signifies a higher standard of living, a stylish and evolved lifestyle. Yet when it comes to understanding about how to use perfume, many of us lack it. We use perfume too loosely and inaptly. It's so funny that the usage of perfume and how it’s stored in our houses is inversely proportional to the effort we take to select and buy the product. For the sake of fully experiencing the olfactory journey, the knowledge of how to apply perfume is elementary. And mind you, it's not rocket science. It’s common sense. Yet, many do not know or know partially. This problem is more complex in India where the usage of perfume amongst general population is increasing with higher spending power. While a true lover of perfume in India will know the basic tips on how to make perfume stay on longer, there are several evolving users who would benefit immensely with tips on how to apply perfume. When used correctly, the experience of enjoying the fragrance and reveling under its aroma changes completely. Let’s go over some important points to remember while applying perfumes that are akin to small, cute secrets on how to make perfume stay on longer.
Step 1: Begin with Fresh, Hydrated skin.
The whole chemistry of scents plays out in conjunction with your skin and its warmth. The scents evaporate and release their aroma when they encounter your skin. If you skin is dry, the evaporation is faster. Conversely, if the skin is clean and hydrated, the perfume will evaporate slower. The best practice would be applying the perfume after a warm bath. Your pores will be open due to the steam and the perfume will penetrate better. Obviously, you must dry down your skin with a towel to remove excess water; a completely wet skin will not help. The next step to learning how to apply a perfume is to hydrate your skin with cream or moisturizer. This layer will help to hold onto the fragrance molecules longer on the skin which will result in a longer lasting fragrance. Ideally, you should opt for an unscented or lightly scented lotion. It will avoid conflict with the perfume fragrance. Many connoisseurs apply a touch of Vaseline particularly on their pulse points. It’s a great hack on how to make perfume stay longer.
Step 2: Target your pulse points.
Speaking of pulse points, one of the most important tips for how to apply perfume is making your pulse points as your own aroma dispenser. Confused? See, the fragrance notes in perfume evaporate from the skin releasing their aroma as its trail. Our pulse points are warmer and moister. This makes the perfume not only absorb better, but the aroma chemicals in the perfume also react nicely. The fragrance experience can be felt in its entirety. More importantly, the choice of pulse points also matters – and yes, you do have multiple choices. The best pulse points to apply are your neck, chin, collarbones and behind the ears. We would always recommend that because these pulse points are closest to your nose, and you will continually get a whiff of the fragrance. Trust us, it will alter your mood. The other popular places are the wrists and inner elbows. When you are with our beloved, or are going on a date, spray it on your chest and shoulder blade too, and transform the whole experience.
Step 3: Build layers for a long-lasting scent.
One lesser-known tip about how to apply perfume and how to make perfume last longer is to do layering. So, what exactly is layering - for a few it is wearing two different perfumes (which we don’t recommend), but for most it is complementing the perfume with a deodorant, after shave, body lotion or shower gel of the same fragrance. So, when you apply a lotion of the same fragrance and spray the perfume, the whole olfactory experience compounds. The skin is dealing with the same aromas for evaporation and hence the fragrance stays longer. It is also a terrific way to achieve the sillage - the scent trail that is left behind once you pass someone.
Step 4: Spritz from a distance.
The aromas in perfume are tiny molecules that land individually and separately on your skin. When you spritz the perfume on your pulse point from a close distance, all these molecules land together on a small area of your skin. Your skin will appear wet with the perfume and trust us, that’s misleading because you psychologically feel that you have applied a lot of perfume. The pro tip on how to apply perfume is this – spray it on your pulse points from approx. 15 cms distance. This will ensure the molecules don’t get clubbed together and when they land on your skin, collectively they cover a larger skin surface. This basically means that the evaporation will take time and make the perfume last longer.
Step 5: Don’t Overspray
What’s our intuitive thought when we think about how to apply fragrances to make it long lasting? Spray a lot – basic human reaction. Well, too much of anything is bad. The best way to understand how to apply fragrances is to know that a couple of spritz at more pulse points is more impactful than spraying a lot more at fewer pulse points. Also, another thing that tends to happen is that our nose gets used to a fragrance over a period and therefore we smell the same perfume lesser. That misleads people into spraying more the next time. But that’s not needed a lot. A couple of spritz at more pulse points will do the trick just alright.
Step 6: Complement the fragrance by spraying some on the clothes and hair.
Applying a little perfume to your clothing is a great complementary tip for how to use perfume. Fragrances evaporate slower on fabrics than skin. They also interact differently with it as compared to the skin. So, it’ll be like the layering tip we gave earlier. But it will keep the scent going all day. However, we recommend a patch test first as several fragrance oil tend to leave a stain on the clothes. Another tip on how to apply fragrances is to apply some on your hair, either directly or with a comb. Again, do a patch test first.
Common mistakes to avoid while applying perfumes.
Don’t rub your wrists:
Yes, that suffocates the scent trail.
Do not wear two different fragrances together:According to us, they kill the impact of both fragrances. Layering with a different product of the same fragrance is great but layering with the same product but different fragrance is avoidable.
Do not apply after wearing your clothes:
The most common mistake on how to apply perfume. We can’t properly reach the pulse points when we apply the perfume at the last minute, when we are fully clothed and about to rush. Most of the perfume will miss the skin and spill over on the clothes. Best time to apply is just before you wear your clothes to step out. This needs a change of habit but is immensely helpful.
Must try perfumes from Dopamine Shop
Kissed by the Sea
A refreshing blend created with Aqua, Bergamot & Patchouli. A whiff this unisex scent will transport you on vacation.
Between You & Me
A cosy unisex blend with Lavender, Nutmeg & Vetiver. As the scent hits your nose, your mind will smell the warm embrace of your beloved.
Dark Side of Vanilla
A statement unisex scent. Period. With Tobacco Leaf, Vanilla, and Wood. A classy diffusion that is spread across the room turning heads toward you
Deliciously Spicy
“Why so serious?” is the right question that goes with this playful unisex scent made up of spices cinnamon, saffron, and tobacco. This unisex scent is so delicious that you will want to eat it.
PS: Hey, do check out our Oud Unisex Perfume collection here. It is a trilogy of scents with Oud at the centre. A rare and unique collection of Oud Unisex Perfumes
Conclusion:
The secrets behind understanding how to apply perfume for him or perfume for her are straightforward and rooted in the science of how fragrances react with the skin. Once you know that, all the tips of how to use perfume given above will instantly start making sense. Using these techniques may require modifying habits but the magical olfactory experience that you will experience due to this will make all this worthwhile.
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Unisex Perfumes: The Perfect Blend of Scents for EveryoneDon’t try to fix something that isn’t broken – that was the motto of large fragrance houses who relied on distributors & retailers for sales. Feedback on which fragrances are demanded more, or which ones should be made more would also flow back from them. As a result, woody and amber fragrance became For Him, and floral & gourmand fragrances came to be known as For Her. The big gap in between – of notes & accords that appeal to both was rarely experimented. Even while culturally the society was evolving to the idea of gender-neutrality, there was no real unisex perfume brand coming up. Till E-commerce came in. This encouraged many an Artisan and Niche perfume brands like Dopamine Perfumes to set shop as they could sell online directly. With no historical baggage, creativity in notes & accords was not a hindrance. And a new range of best unisex fragrances started getting developed.
Today, the gap between gender-specific perfumes and unisex perfumes is closing and closing fast. Niche perfume brands like Dopamine Perfumes have both the ability and drive to make the best unisex fragrances. Unisex Perfumes explore the wide array of permutation and combinations possible with mixing of fragrance notes & accords creating a bouquet of scents that appeal to both genders. The era of unisex perfumes has only just begun.
What is Gender Neutral Perfume?
A Perfume that contains a bouquet of fragrance curated to appeal to both men and women is a gender-neutral fragrance. The best unisex perfume is the one that is loved by both genders for its unmatchable fragrance. If floral, powdery perfumes are quintessentially women’s perfumes, and if woody, musky perfumes are male, best unisex fragrances cater to the large section in between. It is about breaking the barriers and preconceived notions we hold about ingredient pairing. Many men prefer a light airy fragrance and many women like a strong statement scent. In a gender-neutral fragrance, you will feel on qualm in adding a floral note to woody note (historically considered as a male fragrance). Making the best unisex perfume is an art that requires time, patience, and effort. Niche and artisanal brands like Dopamine Perfumes, which are keen to make a mark in the world, have this unique white space for creating modern unisex fragrance blends
What makes a Perfume Unisex?
Simply put, the best unisex fragrances are the ones that appeal to both genders. They are not made keeping his mind preferences of men or notes associated with women. Imagine making music by combining musical notes & scales without worrying whether it’s rock or jazz or classical. Technically there is no official definition prescribed by any international bodies as to what make a perfume a Unisex perfume. Haven’t we heard of some women who like men’s perfume more? For that woman, that perfume can be called a Unisex perfume. The only difference is unisex perfume brands make a wide array of bouquets that make it likeable to a lot many men and lot many women. Be it luxury unisex perfumes or affordable unisex perfumes, all of them mix and match various ingredients to arrive at an optimal bouquet of fragrance that would appeal to both.
The benefits of Unisex Perfumes
Unisex Perfume brands are more often Artisan or Niche brands who arrive at a complex set of fragrance combinations based on their creativity and open mind. Best Unisex Fragrances have certain remarkable benefits for a userWider Choice – Unisex Perfume brands do not stick to the quintessential notes at each end of the spectrum – woody and aromatic for men, and floral and gourmand for women. They operate in the large area between and therefore a perfume lover can get a wide choice of top unisex fragrances.
Modern Bouquet – Because traditional combination of notes is avoided due to their gender bias, a fragrance lover gets the latest aromatic combination, both natural and lab made.
Deep Personal Connection – Imagine you and your loved one using the same fragrance, a deep personal connection. The fragrance will remind you of your loved ones even they’re away from you.
Bang for a Buck – You can spread the cost of usage and also afford to experiment with fragrances since they can be used commonly
What are the common fragrances found in Unisex Perfumes?
While designing unisex perfumes, the one aspect that we have kept in mind at Dopamine Perfumes is the usage occasion. Both genders have similar objectives of using perfumes when you look at it from the prism of usage. At work, both genders want to be subtle and pleasing. At a party, they want a fragrance with great diffusion. On a date, they want to feel attractive. Our curations for Unisex perfumes are based on this logic. The best unisex fragrances are the ones that contain notes and accords to meet these requirements. Take our new range of Unisex Perfumes as a case in point. One of our unisex luxury perfumes, Between You & Me consists of mesmerizing Lavender with warm spicy Nutmeg. It instantly transports you to a cozy fireplace, snuggled up with your loved ones. This unisex fragrance is instantly liked by both men and women. So, when deciding for the top unisex fragrance always evaluate it from the usage point of view and you will always have a winning choice.
The ultimate collection of Unisex Perfumes at Dopamineshop
Dopamine’s best perfumes feature a unisex range designed to evoke emotions, reflecting the belief that a fragrance should create a lasting feeling. A unisex scent should not be coloured by old beliefs that strong scents are for men and light for women. A unisex luxury perfume must be a perfect blend for both genders. Here’s a brief of our collection of Unisex Perfumes
Molecules of Mood Collection- Our latest range of Unisex Luxury Perfumes
Four outstanding, modern blends of unisex fragrance. Each unisex perfume has a unique identity, and each blend is created with notes and accords that accentuate your feelings and become self-expression of your mood. As our tagline goes, what’s your mood today?
Kissed by the Sea
A refreshing blend created with Aqua, Bergamot & Patchouli. A whiff this unisex scent will transport you on vacation.
Between You & Me
A cosy unisex blend with Lavender, Nutmeg & Vetiver. As the scent hits your nose, your mind will smell the warm embrace of your beloved.
Dark Side of Vanilla
A statement unisex scent. Period. With Tobacco Leaf, Vanilla, and Wood. A classy diffusion that’s spread across the room turning heads toward you
Deliciously Spicy
“Why so serious?” is the right question that goes with this playful unisex scent made up of spices cinnamon, saffron, and tobacco. This unisex scent is so delicious that you will want to eat it.
PS: Hey, do check out our oud perfume collection here. It’s a trilogy of scents with Oud at the centre. A rare and unique collection of Oud Unisex Perfumes
Conclusion:
Unisex Fragrances have arrived and are here to stay. The important point is whether is it genuinely the best unisex fragrance. Does it have notes and accords that can appeal to both genders? Has enough research been done by the brand while developing unisex perfumes? If floral, powdery perfumes are quintessentially women’s perfumes, and if woody, musky perfumes are male, unisex fragrances cater to the large section in between. And that’s where its beauty lies. Unisex Fragrances are a great way to explore fragrances for what they are – magic key to unlocking good feelings
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Perfume Vs Deodorant: The key difference between them.We are often asked by our customers ‘Deo vs Perfume, what is better’ or ‘Deo vs Perfume, what is the difference?’ It’s amazing how the two products are pitted against each other. Because it is like comparing two wheelers to sedans; while both are vehicles per se, each of them has different utility and meet different aspiration levels. To get a better perspective, one needs to clearly understand What is a Deodorant? What is its use and What is a Perfume? What need does it meet? The best of deodorants cannot meet the use of perfumes, and the best perfumes can’t address the functionality met by the deodorant. But then why this confusion? Because both have ‘fragrance’ as the main identifier. Both complement each other when it comes to fragrances. More so in India, where grooming products are in their nascent stage, most of the consumers try to achieve the goals of a perfume through a deodorant. Hence such questions arise. Let’s dig a little deeper and get out facts right in the ‘Deo vs Perfume’.
What is a Perfume and what is its purpose?
So, what is a perfume? What defines it? Perfume is an aspirational, lifestyle product which has, as its core functionality, to entice one of our five senses, the olfactory sense. It’s purely luxury product that denotes an elite standard of grooming and by extension, a higher standard of living. It complements fashion clothing through the sense of smell. The best perfumes are those that evoke emotions, memories and define one’s personality. Fragrances have been prevalent since the times of Emperors and Kings. In those days, oils were extracted from fragrant flowers and used as ‘attars.’ Broadly speaking, perfumes are an evolved version of attars in the sense that the fragrance oils are made mist worthy by adding alcohol and fixatives which help in evenly applying the liquid on your skin. The purpose of is to aromatize your body without the ability to protect your body from bad odour, which is where Deodorants come in.
What is a Deodorant and what is its purpose?
As compared to Perfumes, Deodorants are comparatively newer products. While they contain fragrances, they are not as aspirational as perfumes (notwithstanding the innumerable deodorant ads you see about men attracting women!) What is deodorant then? Well, the best deodorants are not just meant to smell good; it has another the job to do – de-odorize body odour effectively. The main functionality of Deodorants it to limit or kill the growth of bacteria growth that are prevalent in one’s private parts like underarms. Can we have a deodorant for men without fragrance? Yes. Can we de-odorize our skin just by adding fragrance? No! Because they neutralize odour producing bacteria, Deodorants are meant to be applied in sweat prone private parts, under arms, groin etc. Traditionally, fragrances were added to Deodorants to make it attractive to use. Why will anyone buy non-fragrant Deo? You can have a Deodorant without fragrance, it will still deodorize. But if you were to remove fragrance out of a perfume, it would no longer be of any use.
Still thinking Perfumes vs Deodorants? Let’s revisit our analogy of two-wheeler vs sedan, just like two-wheelers have a functional objective of cheaper, faster mode of transport, deodorants also have a functional objective of deodorizing your body. And just like we have better looking and little more aspirational motor bikes, deodorants come in better quality. They have evolved from being a single ingredient fragrance bouquet to multi-faceted product. Notwithstanding the better looking and expensive motor bike, you will still look for a luxurious sedan as your personal expression of good lifestyle and status. That’s what the best perfumes are. They are made after a lot of research on the bouquet of fragrance and all along, from the raw material to packaging, quality and style assume a lot of importance.
Deo Vs Perfume: What is right for you?
So, as you conclude from the above, Deo vs Perfume or Perfume Vs Deodorant is not really the matter. It’s a needless comparison. You can use each individually or together. Understand the basic difference highlighted below and decide for yourself.
Deos vs Perfumes
Does
Perfumes
Core Function
Neutralize Odor producing bacteria from your skin; de-odorize it
Aromatize your body and even your clothes, hair
Area of application
Area around, near your private parts. Chiefly underarms.
On your pulse points; behind your ear, neckline, wrist, elbow
Can it be made without adding fragrance
Yes
No
How much fragrance does it contain
4 to 6%
15 to 25%
How long does the fragrance last
1 to 2 hours
Depending on the amount & quality of oil, 5 to 10 hrs
Aspirational vs Functionality
More functional
Aspirational
Pricing Perspective
Less expensive than Perfumes
More expensive than Deo's. Can be very expensive
So, what is right for you? Our verdict – both have their own spot. Deo's protect you from bad odour and Perfumes elevate your sense of grooming. In fact, it’s not Deo vs Perfumes. Its Deo's and Perfumes. Both together are a great layering option. That’s why at Dopamine shop, we have fragrances available in the aspirational Perfume version, and the same quality of fragrances have been used to make a Deodorant version too. Used together, they become an excellent long-lasting combination.
Discover the best Perfumes from Dopamine shop for every occasion:
No marketing jargon here. Dopamine Shop is the go-to option for best scents for men because of some key fundamental reasons. Firstly, all our perfumes are Extrait De Parfums - the highest category of perfume. Secondly, the notes & accords in our perfumes are formulated on the plank of the principal that fragrances have a powerful connection to mood. Dopamine Perfumes also avoid non-essential cost (like glamourous packaging and shiny ads) and spend more on higher quality of raw material, making it an affordable luxury product. Check out our wide range of Perfumes.
Top Deodorants from Dopamine shop for Lasting Freshness:
Dopamine Deodorants come in two options – Deodorant for men and Unisex or gender-neutral Deodorants. Our Deodorants strike a perfect balance between its antibacterial properties and luxury fragrances. This unique availability is underrated amongst deodorant users. By using the same fragrance as the one we use in our Perfumes for men, our deodorants act like a form of body spray that is just a notch below actual perfume. The aerosol mechanism which uses propellent agents, ensures that the anti-bacterial agents spread evenly on your body (much needed as bacteria is spread everywhere). The propellent mechanism also gives a nice cooling effect when sprayed. You can buy our deodorants for men individually, and they also come as a bundle with discount and a luxury travel pouch.
Conclusion
Perfumes vs. deodorants is a fallacy of marketers who have chosen to downplay the functionality of Deodorants and pit it against Perfumes as an aspirational product. Deodorants are evolving in the fragrance profile with niche brands like Dopamine Shop, trying to give it a wider and complex bouquet of fragrances even while improving its core function of neutralizing Odor producing bacteria. So, the choice is not between Deo and Perfumes, it's actually both Deo's and Perfumes!
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Differences Between Perfume, Eau De Toilette, CologneThe highest number of questions we get asked by our customers are: ‘Parfum vs Cologne, what is better?’ ‘What is eau de toilette?’ ‘Please help: what is better, perfume vs eau de toilette?’ etc, etc. Some of them do not know what a cologne is and what’s the difference between a perfume and cologne. In this guide we see on what grounds perfumes are categorised and how that impacts how long lasting the perfume is, even and the cost of making it.
For starters, you will recall seeing (and even sometime struggling to pronounce) various labels on perfumes like Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de parfum (EDP) and Parfum.
These are nothing but various categories of perfumes or types of perfumes.
But you ask, on what basis is this done.
For that, let’s get a little technical. So, Perfume is a fragrant liquid comprised of aromatic fragrance oils, solvents, and fixatives. Think of Solvents and Fixative as supporting actors; they help the oil to blend with the alcohol. For this guide, let’s talk about the main actor or the hero - the aromatic fragrance oil. This blend of oil is what gives the perfume its fragrance.
The quantity of aromatic fragrance oils, or in other words, the amount of raw material added in a bottle is what defines the above category names (think about small and large pegs while drinking). Typically, the fragrance oil added ranges from 1% to 25%. That’s there to it – depending on how much fragrance oil you put in, the classification changes form a cologne to eau de toilette, or from eau de parfum to extrait de parfum. These guidelines are given by International Fragrance Association (IFRA) With these basics clear, lets dive a little deeper.
What is a Perfume?
First & foremost, let's get one confusion out of the way – the words parfum and perfume are used interchangeably as extension (we will avoid going in the history of why both spellings exist). So, eau de parfum or eau de perfume both mean the same thing.
Perfume is the umbrella, or the basic product category under which subcategories exist – eau fraiche (popularly known as after shaves), eau de cologne (also called only cologne, eau de toilette, eau de perfume and extrait de perfume. However, in general practice when someone says or writes about Perfume, it refers to eau de perfume or extrait de perfumes, the most common subcategory. The glass bottles with the sprayer which we see often see in ads. So, when one asks perfume vs cologne, the question is eau de perfume vs cologne. Extrait de Perfumes, the highest subcategory in perfumery, are also called as ‘Parfums’ officially (yes, its unnecessarily complicated but stay with us till the end and you will wiser ) When one asks perfume vs eau de perfume, it basically means extrait de perfume vs eau de perfume.
What are the main categories of Perfume?
In order of highest to lowest fragrance oil concentration:
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Extrait De Perfume
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Eau De Perfume
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Eau De Toilette
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Eau De Cologne or Cologne
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Eau Fraiche
Let’s simplify each category so you have the entire picture clear.
What is Extrait De Perfume?
Extrait de parfum or pure perfume, also known as Parfums, has the highest fragrance oils concentration. Parfum will contain anywhere from 20% to 30%. For the mathematically inclined, a 100 ml Parfum bottles will contain 20 to 30 ml of fragrance oil concentration. Given that, fragrance oils are most expensive raw material of perfumes, naturally Extrait De Parfums generally are most expensive of the lot.
How much a perfume lasts has a direct correlation with the amount of fragrance oil it has. Hence, Extrait De Parfums are classified as the longest lasting category. One application can last anywhere between 6 to 9 hrs-a solid performance.
What is Eau De Perfume?
After parfum, eau de parfum (EDP) has the next highest category in terms of fragrance concentration. Eau de parfum generally has a fragrance concentration of between 15% and 20%. EDP will last anywhere 4 to 6 hrs after one application. It is one of the most popular types of fragrance available.
What is Eau De Toilette?
Pronounced as ‘twaley’ (not ‘tulet’ or ‘toilet’), Eau de toilette (EDT) has a fragrance concentration of between 5% and 15%. Eau de Toilettes, with their concentration, will last between 2 to 4 hrs after one application.
Eau De Toilette Vs Parfum: If one were to rank Eau De Toilette, it would come 3rd. Because it is less concentrated than Eau De Perfumes which have about 15 to 20% fragrance oil. Eau De Perfumes would stand 2nd, and Extrait De Perfumes would come 1st.
Why are Eau de parfum and Eau de Toilette made more than Extrait De Perfume?
You must consider two factors, the evolution of modern-day perfumes and the impact of weather on the longevity. It’s the Western countries that have truly evolved in terms of designing fragrances and most of them have harmonious climate - less heat and humidity both of which impact the how long and how well the fragrance stays on your skin. Hence historically they have always made Eau De Toilettes and Eau De Perfumes. (less cost)
With lifestyle and aspirations fast changing in counties like India which has a tropical climate, Eay De Toilette and Eau De Perfumes become less effective. Hence, here we will see more and more version of Extrait De Parfums coming out. And it makes sense too.
All Dopamine Perfumes belongs to Extrait De Parfum category; they contain 25% fragrance oil. To put it differently, Dopamine Perfumes are modified to suit Indian Weather.
What is Cologne?
Cologne or Eau de cologne has a far lower concentration of fragrance than the above types of perfume. EDC generally has a 2% to 4% percent concentration of fragrance and a high concentration of alcohol. It won’t last more than two hours. These are one of earliest variety of perfumes. The industry has evolved over time and hence these are made lesser & lesser. Some people interchange perfume with cologne. But now you know, that’s not the correct representation.
Perfume Vs Cologne: What’s the difference?
If you have paid attention to what is explained above, you will know the answer. But we have still summarised it below:
Perfume (Eau De Perfume) VS Cologne
Perfume (Eau De Perfume)
Cologne
Contains 5 to 15% Fragrance Oil
Contains 2% to 4% Fragrance Oil
Lasts upto 4 to 6 hrs
Lasts upto an hour or two
Expensive to make than Cologne
Cheaper and traditional version with more alcohol content
Eau De Perfume (EDP) is generalised as Perfume, but Perfume is an umbrella category and EDPs are a part of this umbrella
Cologne is sometimes, and not rightly, used to refer to Perfume and sometimes used to refer to an After Shave (Eau Fraiche)
Perfume Vs Eau De Toilette: What’s the difference?
Eau De Toilette vs Parfum
Perfume (Eau De Perfume)
Eau De Toilette
Contains 5 to 15% Fragrance Oil
Contains 8% to 15% Fragrance Oil
Lasts upto 4 to 6 hrs
Lasts upto 2 to 4 hrs
Expensive to make than Eau De Toilette
Cheaper than both Eau De Perfume and Extrait De Perfume
Discover best fragrances from Dopamine Shop:
Now that you understand perfume vs cologne or perfume vs eau de toilette, you will also realize for the perfume to last longer, a higher fragrance oil concentration is necessary. That’s the bare minimum. Since all our perfumes fall in the extrait de perfume category, the penultimate requirement is taken care of. Go on then find your best scent at Dopamine shop
Conclusion
What is Eau De Toilette, what is a Cologne or Cologne vs Eau de Toilette should no longer be a mystery for you. Call it a choice of Perfumes vs Cologne or Perfumes vs Eau De Perfume, the bottom line is that the classification is a function of the percentage of fragrance oil in the bottle. The higher the fragrance oil, the longer it will take to evaporate of your skin. Also, the higher the fragrance oil, the more costly it is to make. That’s how you decide what is best, definitions notwithstanding. Happy Smelling!
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Top Diwali Perfume Gift Sets to Celebrate the Festival of LightsDo you know that there is linkage of fragrances with Diwali? When Lord Ram and Sita were returning to Ayodhya after the exile, the whole city was decorated with diyas and flowers. Several accounts of this wonderful event describe the occasion and the people, in which perfumers and incense stick makers find a mention. In fact, historical records dated several hundred years ago have noting that people of India were known for their love for fragrances? They took special care to make themselves and their surroundings fragrant. Gifting fragrances like sandalwood, agarwood etc to Kings was a regular practice followed by important visitors including British Merchants. So, when it comes to one of our oldest festivals. Diwali, showering love to your near and dear ones with fragrances is not only symbolic and deeply intimate, but also one of best Deepavali gift ideas. A Diwali Gift set that consists of perfumes gift sets features amongst the most favoured gift items for Diwali. If you are searching for the Deepavali gift ideas for your loved ones or Diwali gift ideas for employees, there some very good reasons to opt for Perfume Gift sets.
The Symbolism of Gifting Perfume During Diwali
As a festival, Diwali stands for victory, joy, celebration and coming together of loved ones. It signifies new beginnings and gratitude for the loved ones – friends and family. As an expression of this mood, we indulge in decorating our houses, dressing up ourselves, almost ornately, and cleaning our surrounding. All these are visual forms of expression. However, fragrances are the non-visual form of expression. Fragrances have a powerful connection to mood and this nonvisual form of expression complements & completes the celebrative atmosphere. Deepavali gift ideas that consist of perfumes gift sets is our way of our telling our loved ones to go out and express themselves and elevate their mood. It is often said that eatables and perishables as Diwali Gift items tend to go waste and lead to spoilage. More importantly, they don’t feel personal. On the other hand, perfumes as Diwali gift ideas feel personal and intimate. Deepavali gift items such as these also can be used for a longer part after Diwali thereby reminding your loved one about how much you thought about them at that time.
Why Perfumes Are the Perfect Gift Choice for Festive Season
As a personal care product, Perfumes signify luxury, class and sophistication. There is a lot of aspirational value attached to a perfume. As much as that is true, Perfumes are also purchased on impulse; it’s a not a planned purchase. Nobody really steps out to buy a perfume, like they step out to buy, let’s say, clothes. These two points, make perfumes as a great choice as a Deepavali Gift item. When your loved once receive it as a gift, it meets their aspirational value. It assigns a status symbol to both the receiver and giver. And because of how we purchase perfumes, there will always be an unmet need for it – they’re going to say, ‘Oh yes, I needed a perfume’ Amongst all gift items for Diwali, Perfumes have an edge because of being a great mix of status symbol, luxury and personal appeal.
The Perfect Fragrances Giftset for Every Kind of Relationship
Another aspect of the perfumes and fragrances as gift items for Diwali is the fact that it can cover gifting for all relationships. Perfumes as a Deepavali gift idea bring universal appeal with it and therefore ease of managing the complex task of personalised gifts. Be it teenagers who get be gifted fragrant deodorant Diwali gift sets or married couple who can be given a couple perfume gift set. At Dopamine Perfumes, you can pretty much get fragrance gift sets in multiple options. From buying Diwali gift set for him & for her, to Diwali combo gifts sets in the form discovery sets.
Luxurious Diwali Gift Ideas for Employees
While selecting Diwali Gift Sets for Employees, one needs a value for money option as it is usually needed in bulk. At the same time, the Diwali gift should not look cheap, it should have an aspirational value attached to it for the receiver. Therefore, perfume gift sets or men’s fragrance gift sets become an ideal choice for Diwali Perfume Gift Ideas for employees. At Dopamine Perfumes, the Combo pack for 4 Perfumed Deodorants in a travel pouch by dopamine is an excellent value for money Diwali gift idea for employees. It’s the top choice for Diwali gift ideas for Employees.
Conclusion
When it comes to gift items for Diwali, perfume gift sets or fragrance gift sets become a fantastic choice for multiple reasons – aspirational value and status symbol associated with it, the importance of fragrance attached to the festival, the ease of selection across relationships and gender, and many more. Perfumes & Fragrances rank as the most preferred gift choice for Deepavali gift ideas. Go ahead then, choose a perfume gift set and make the Diwali a fragrant occasion for your loved ones
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Elegant Scents: Perfumes for the Perfect Wedding CelebrationSo, you have found the perfect partner for your wedding. But do you have the right perfume for the Perfect Wedding Celebration?
Think about this – how much planning and iteration do we do for our wedding clothes, jewelry, venue, food etc. And how much effort do we put for selecting the perfume we wear? Hardly comparable, right? In this blog post, we will explain how important, necessary and exciting it is to pick perfumes for wedding. The ideal best wedding scent for your big day!
Wedding is a once in a lifetime event, well, for most of us (thankfully we don’t ape the West so much in this). Either way, its indeed a special day for the bride and the groom. And in India, we have a whole industry built around it – Bridal clothes, Bridal jewelry, Bridal mehndi etc. But what about Bridal perfume? This small yet critical detail is a significant aspect which often gets pushed back till the last day or worse, forgotten completely. However, given that both the bride and the groom spend their most important day in proximity to each other, and at the same time are also the center of attention, meeting so many guests, fragrance or perfume can’t be ignored. A great perfume will make the wedding celebration perfect and memorable. Read on to know how
Why does the Choice of Perfumes Matter on Your Wedding Day?
Picking up the best wedding perfume for your D-day has several solid reasons:
- It will accentuate the overall look – Perfumes for wedding must be exclusive. The fragrance should be long lasting of course, given the lengthy proceedings, they should also do justice to the bridal clothes and elegant make up. The bridal perfume should be a strong supporter to the visual appearance of the bride and the groom. The elegant whiff of the wedding scent should be noticeable, just like the rest of the get up.
- It enhances the experience of the bride & the groom – We keep saying fragrances have a powerful connection to the mood. And on their wedding day, even the best, need a dose of feeling attractive, calm and confident. The best wedding perfume is not only the one that smells great but it's also the one that makes the couple feel good. Think about it, the couple are going to spend a long day in the festivities. A good fragrance will make their experience with each other better. A great start to spending the rest of the life together.
- It’s a memory that you can relive time & time again – It will look funny if you wear your wedding clothes later to relive your wedding memories. And how often will you scroll at the wedding photographs? Guess what, if you wear the same fragrance again, it will retrigger the same memory, nicely and privately. And yes, its scientifically proven fact about memories and fragrances. Imagine it’s your first anniversary. Wouldn’t you want to relive the intimate moments without haing the need to explicitly talk about it? It’s elementary, my dear Watson
Tips for selecting Long Lasting Wedding Perfumes for Brides and Grooms
Now that you know why it is so important to put in some thoughts behind picking the best perfume for your wedding, let us give you some super tips on selecting your ideal wedding scent
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Go for Extrait De Parfum – the longest lasting category as classified by International Fragrance Association:
The concentration of fragrance oil in the perfume matters. If the perfume has about 15-20% fragrance oil, it’s an Eau De Parfum. Higher than 20%, is called Extrait De Parfum which is classified as the longest-lasting category. Given that you will need a long-lasting wedding scent, this high concentration will help when the fragrance starts to evaporate from your skin during the day; the wearing off will be slower and less pronounced. Remember, it’s going to be a long day for you. All our Dopamine Perfumes are Extrait De Parfums with 25% oil concentration
2. Long Lasting is a must, yes but it should be beautifully long lasting:
Select a fragrance that becomes pleasing in dry down stage. It should smell great while lasts long. If you know us, you know that we have a very well-researched view on long lasting. Let us quickly tell you– It is the base notes of a perfume that are responsible for long lastingness. These combine with top & middle notes to form a bouquet of fragrance. E.g. musk, patchouli, wood, vanilla etc. Aside from that there are other molecules like aldehydes that make base notes. Base notes come into play a few hours after spraying the perfume. The important thing is this, the base note should not become off putting in dry down stage; sometimes powdery notes can mature into that. It will ruin the experience. Even though you can smell the fragrance, it won’t be pleasing any longer. So, the combination of ingredients is very important. When we paired Oud with Rose in our Oud Cardinal parfum, we added Saffron to it also so that when the three combine in the dry down stage, it comes as a very pleasing scent.
3. Pick a warm spicy and opulent fragrance that dazzles. Don’t let top notes sway you.
When we buy or decide a perfume, the decision is based on the top notes. Because that’s what you smell at the start. Hence, we gravitate towards fragrances like Citrus and Aqua dominant perfumes as they smell great at the start. However, for your wedding you need a warm spicy and opulent smell – like royalty. This kind of a fragrance and feeling can come only with intricate mixture of middle and base notes. Ingredients like the mysterious Oud or the nuanced Lavender or sweet combination of vanilla with other spices, are the apt ones. When we created our ‘Mystery of Oud’ collection, our mood board was warm, intimate and opulent bouquet. That’s why we paired Oud with two hero ingredients and made their versions of deep, rich and long lasting perfumes. Such perfume profiles are best perfume for men for wedding. In fact, a lot of women also think of Oud as a good bridal perfume option.
4. Do a trial of what you pick!
Needless to mention, give the best wedding scent as much important as wedding clothes. Do a trial. Wear your fragrance choice for a day before the big day. See how you feel. Let your future partner wear it too. You don’t want to surprise him or her on that day.
Matching Perfumes for Couples: Complementing Scents
We get a lot of questions about matching perfumes with the bride or the groom? Well to be honest, that is difficult because every fragrance progresses differently after application. Yes you can look at complementing one of the key ingredients – like say leather dominated or wood dominated fragrance but please understand there are several ingredients that go into making blend so exact matching, like color of the clothes is not possible.
Instead, we highly recommend picking a unisex or gender neutral fragrance which is intimate, warm spicy and royale. And then both can wear the same fragrance. Yes, you read it right. Wearing the same fragrance is not only truly complementary, it is also an extremely intimate feeling. The current of Unisex fragrances in the market, like the ones we have, are remarkable in their variety and scent quality. And of course, it exactly matches!
Conclusion:
best wedding perfume or best wedding fragrance for you:
- Firstly, Buy Extrait De Parfums as they will naturally be more long lasting. They are longest lasing category in perfumery
- Pick a perfume whose base notes are pleasing on dry down. You may not like some base notes so be sure
- Fragrances dominated by Warm Spicy, Sweet, Wood (Oud) etc are opulent, intimate and cozy. Such profiles provide best bridal perfume options
- Picking the same unisex fragrance is the best way not only to match the perfume but intimately connected with your partner on this all-important day.
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A Guide to Identifying Long Lasting Perfumes for WomenIn this article we attempt to simplify the concept of long lasting perfumes for women. There is too much information clutter on this. In this blog we will cut this cuttler and present some key factors contributing to long lasting fragrances. It will help you make an informed decision about buying long lasting perfumes for women.
We love the women folk; they like to get to the bottom of things. Almost every woman customer of ours with whom we interact desires a long lasting perfume. But they are overwhelmed with how to choose one. What factors contribute to making a fragrance last long? they ask. They have thoughtful questions – ‘that perfume lasts long on Sheena but it didn’t last that long on me, why?’, ‘so many articles list down brand names of long lasting perfume for ladies or top long lasting female perfumes, but who will us what to expect from a long lasting fragrance?’ While answering them, it occurred to us that it will be a great idea to make a guide that breaks down this concept of long lasting fragrances so that our lovely ladies are better equipped while selecting their perfume.As far as long lastingness in fragrances goes – there are things that are in our control while searching for a long lasting fragrance (for e.g. which fragrance family to pick) and there are the things that are not (the environment in which we wear the perfume) A particular name from the list of long lasting perfumes for women doesn’t necessarily mean everything. Its Odor profile should match her usage and personality too. So, let’s demystify long lasting fragrances for our women
How should ladies look at long lasting fragrance? What things in a perfume help it make the cut in the list of ‘Best Long-Lasting fragrance for Women?’
A fragrance is considered long lasting if you can still smell it on your skin or clothes after several hours; many brands claim this ‘several hours’ to be anywhere from 6 hours to 12 hours. Some of them even dare to say our perfumes lasts as long as 24 hrs! Wow. That’s how much a relationship lasts these days. But tell you what – cut all the noise out & first understand the below factors to a long lasting perfume. It's not the hours that it lasts, it's how it lasts through those hours.
Factors to consider for long lasting female perfume
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Is it Eau De Parfum or Extrait De Parfum; Perfumes or Parfums?
The concentration of fragrance oil in the perfume defines this. If the perfume has about 15-20% fragrance oil, it’s an Eau De Parfum. Higher than 20%, is Extrait De Parfum. Obviously higher concentration is more expensive. Funnily enough, because perfume brands are concentrated in Europe, a predominantly cooler region, brands have been formulating Eau De Parfum. This because perfumes evaporate slower in cooler climate. Hence Eau De Parfum was optimum for them. However, in India we certainly need more concentration due to our weather and hence Extrait De Parfums (also known as Parfums or Pure Parfums) are best suited for lasting long. All our Dopamine Perfumes are Extrait De Parfums with 25% oil concentration
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Fragrance Family
All perfumes are a bouquet of ingredients. Ingredients belong to different families – citrus belongs to ‘Fresh’ family, Oud belongs to ‘Woody’ family, Vanilla belongs to ‘Oriental or Amber’ family. Some fragrance families smell tremendously well upon spraying – they are intense but not long lasting. Eg: Fresh fragrance family. Some don’t come across as intense upon spraying, but their profile grows over some time & hence such profiles are long lasting. E.g. ‘Amber’ family. The historically ‘women’ fragrances are fresh floral & hence not long lasting. These days more and more women therefore prefer unisex perfumes as they provide more options in the fragrance families.
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Dominant notes in a Perfume
You must have heard of top notes, middle notes and base notes. Every perfume strikes a combination of these notes, and a fragrance profile emerges. Think about it as you trying to fit 3 types of things in a jar. If you add one thing more of one type, you will have to reduce another type. Why is this important? A top note heavy perfume will not last long. A base note heavy perfume will not turn heads when you spray. What do you want?
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External Factors
Every skin or should we say every body reacts differently to a fragrance. The reaction depends on multiple factors which are, frankly beyond our control. The same perfume will smell and last differently between different people. You need to, based on experience, arrive as what type of fragrance suits you best. The long lasting aspect will automatically get taken care of.
Weather also plays a big role. Fragrances evaporates faster in heat and slower in colder places. India has a tropical climate - a citrusy fragrance will smell great but will evaporate faster. If your day involves you being more outdoors, the perfume will last lesser as compared to you having sit in air-conditioned environment. So perhaps you will have to pick an oriental or ambery fragrance.
Here are some tips to make your perfume last longer:
- Spritz on your pulse points – wrists, behind the ears, on your forearms etc
- Spray it from a 15 cms distance so the molecules spread well on your skin
- You can also apply some moisturiser on the skin before spraying
- Spray some on your clothes too. It may not open up the fragrance like body heat does but it will last long on clothes
Conclusion
To sum it up, here are some of practical things you should pay attention to while identifying the best long lasting fragrance for you:
- Firstly, always look at buying an Extrait De Parfum as they will naturally be more long lasting. They are longest lasing category in perfumery
- Unisex fragrances will offer you more choices in fragrance families than traditional women’s fresh floral perfume
- Evaluate your usage. If have important meetings during the day where you want to make an impression early on, wear a top note heavy fresh, floral fragrance. It may not last as long but you have would have achieved your objective.
- If you have longer days or you have to go on a date straight from work, you should look at wearing a woody, ambery fragrance as that will last till evening
- Don’t get swayed by number of hours being advertised. Firstly, it works differently for everyone and secondly you want to smell super and not just longer; even a mosquito repellent lasts longer.
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