When I think of Valentine’s day I think of perfumes for some reason. Like for me, Love is something that comes in a bottle (yes I know that’s weird) But I do truly love perfumes so I’m gonna talk about them. Today’s post is all about scents.
Now we buy perfumes without realizing the exact concentration of fragrance and alcohol. We in general just call all scents perfumes. There are different types of perfume with different concentration and staying power. I’ll also give affordable options in the end with a link to find them online where-ever possible.
1. Parfum:
- This is what we don’t usually find in the market because its very expensive.
- It contains highest concentration of the scent in the form of oil.
- It lasts from 6 to 8 hours on the skin.
- Its best for sensitive skin since it has the lowest concentrate of alcohol.
- Most of us don’t own Parfum because its rare.
2. Eau De Parfum:
- This is what we usually buy, its the most common type of perfume in the market.
- Its less expensive then Parfum but still expensive enough when you buy from a good name brand.
- It has high concentration of the scent/ fragrance.
- Lasts from 4 to 6 hours.
- Suitable for everyday use.
3. Eau De Toilette: (Also known as L’Eau)
- Its most popular type of perfume.
- Medium concentration of the scent.
- Has medium concentration of alcohol.
- Lasts from 4 to 5 hrs
- Its mostly suitable in summer months.
- Its quite similar to Eau De Parfume.
- This type of perfume should be less expensive then the Eau De Parfum but it isn’t usually.
4. Eau De Cologne:
- This is more popular with men.
- High concentration of alcohol.
- Less concentration of scent as compared to Eau De Toilette.
- Lasts from 2 to 4 hrs.
- These come in larger bottles comparatively.
5. Eau Fraiche: (also known as fragrance mist or body mist)
- This has the lowest concentration of fragrance (between 1% to 3%)
- has the lowest concentration of alcohol too
- Lasts upto 3 hrs
- The remainder is mostly water.
- These come in huge bottles.
- These are great to layer with your other perfume.
- Its great for everyday basis and for sensitive skin.
- These are usually the cheapest compared to all mentioned above.
* The shelf life of a perfume is 3-5 years from the date of manufacture. But I still use my perfumes another 2 years after expiry and they work just fine mostly. When we pay so much for perfumes and if you are a perfume hoarder like me you are not gonna finish them that quickly so its fine. But don’t use it if it reacts with your skin in any way.
The different types of fragrance mixture are known as notes and there are three types of main notes to consider when you first smell the scent.
Top Notes:
Lightest note that evaporates first, sometimes called head note.
Middle notes:
Also called heart note, these compounds make up the body of a fragrance and usually determines the fragrance family.
Base Notes:
The longest lasting component, they bring richness and depth to the fragrance.
Affordable options:
1. All Good Scents Eternal Garden Duo Fragrance Set for Women:
(Jasmine Eau De Parfum 50 ml & Rose Eau De Parfum 50 ml)
You can find it here: Click here
I got the sample size for these in one of my Fab Bag and I loved it and I loved the staying power of it seeing as its not as expensive as other perfumes in the market and I definitely loved the scents. Especially the rose one since its not your typical rose scent, its unique and its not overpowering. You will only like these if you truly love floral scents. I am more of candy sweet scent kind of a girl, but I love using floral scents in the summer. The set of two is great for gifts. You can also buy individual bottles. Its available on Nykaa and Amazon and also on their own site. These perfumes smell like high end perfumes and lasts on the skin also for long so they are totally worth it. They do have more scents and their Diva range is good too but these two my fav.
2. StudioWest Eau De Parfum:
There are three main variants in their own range. They have expanded to more scents in smaller bottles recently which are good but their staying power is less but are cheaper compared to a lot of perfumes available in the market. WestSide store has many brands which provide amazing range of scents at quite affordable prices. They also have good scents in the Men section.
Now I have two scents :
- Ibiza Power: This is their 2nd most selling scent and I understand why. Its simple not too overpowering, great for everyday. It lasts on you upto 5 to 6 hours which is great. Its not too sweet not too floral. Its somewhere in between. It smells great on everyone. If you don’t know what perfume to gift someone this is the best one. This is hands down the most used perfume in my collection.
- Muse: This is more on flowery side but not too floral and over powering. If you want to try something floral but you don’t like rose and jasmines and basic flower scents. This is great option. Somehow this lasts a little less on me compared to Ibiza Power but I like using this one in summers. A lot of people prefer Maya scent more but I like this one instead.
These are not available online. But you can find these in any Westside store. So you can test it out before buying.
3. The Body Shop
Okay so The Body Shop range is not the cheapest option out there but you can buy it when its on sale or on discount. So I bought White Musk L’Eau when it was on 50% off (because the expiry is within a year and half, which I don’t mind) There are two White musk, I like the green one more then the purple bottle one.
Most of us love the Musk scents from the Body Shop and the White Musk is my fav. Its the right kind of woody and musky smell without over powering or smelling like a guy. It lasts around 6 hrs and more on my skin which is great as it is not Eau De Parfum but Eau De Toilette which usually lasts less then regular perfumes.
You can find it here: Click here
4. Bath and Body works and Victoria Secret:
Now who doesn’t love these brands and so do I, especially their body mist more then their perfumes. They have a scent for almost everyone and sometimes that can get a little over powering in deciding what you like and what you want to try. Happens with me everytime I visit their stores.
Now Victoria Secret doesn’t have proper store in India but its available in beauty stores and on Amazon (where its expensive) but Bath and Body works has stores in India in Mumbai and Delhi.
I have a few scents of each and I’m not gonna go in detail in this post. I’ll do a separate post for it if you guys want me to, so let me know. Here I’m putting the image of my fav mist from each brand.
- Bath and Body Works Hello Beautiful fragrance mist: This scent will remind you of pink gardens with fresh smell in the air. Its just so refreshing and feminine without being too floral at the same time. Its strong and lasts good amount of time on the skin. I do always layer it but the best part is I can layer this with any scent and it gets along fine without making me smell weird. That’s why it has becomes my Fav. I also use its matching body lotion when I want it to lasts much longer.
- Victoria Secret Temptation Lace: Now this is my 2nd fav from their range. Its a sweet smell but not like very sweet candy or sweet fruity. Its just sweet and refreshing. It will instantly uplift your mood. I love layering this with something sweet as this doesn’t go well with a floral scent. This obviously lasts longer on me then the Bath and Body works one.
** If you liked this post and want me to do a post on expensive brand perfumes do let me know in the comments or you can also DM me on instagram. I can only review perfumes I already own or I have tried before.
** The links I attach are not affiliated. I usually attached sites and stores I personally buy from my own money. (I am in no way advertising expensive products, whatever I show or talk about are things I already own)
*P.S: All opinions are my own and honest. The above-mentioned products are bought and paid for by me. What works for me may not work for you. Trying before buying is always recommended. Check out a few reviews until your satisfied.“If you have come so far *you get a virtual hug* Thanks for the time and do come back again for more such amazing reviews”.