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Advice for Women: The Difference between Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum and Pure Perfume
Eau de toilette (EDT), eau de parfum (EDP) and pure perfume are just different concentrations of a fragrance. Virtually all fragrances contain a mixture of alcohol and essential oils, with the essential oils providing the fragrance and the alcohol aiding the dispersal of the fragrance. Generally, the alcohol 'burns off' in the air whilst the essential oils are absorbed into the skin and provide the fragrance which users enjoy. An EDP which lasts 6-8 hours, has a higher proportion of the essential oils than an EDT which lasts 3-4 hours, whereas the pure perfume has more essential oils than an EDP and just the smallest amount of alcohol to aid dispersal. Pure perfumes can last 12 hours or more (see chart).
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How long should a fragrance last on the skin?
The more essential perfume oils a fragrance contains, the longer it will last on the skin. So, an EDP (6-8 hours) will last longer than an EDT (3-4 hours), whilst pure perfumes often last in excess of 12 hours (see chart). Please bear in mind that most perfume wearers cannot smell a fragrance on themselves other than when they first apply it and sometimes not even then. If you are concerned that your fragrance is not lasting as long as it should, please ask someone else to see if they can smell the fragrance on you. Another important factor in how long a fragrance lasts on the skin is whether the wearer's skin is dry. If a fragrance wearer has dry skin, the fragrance will not last as long as it should but moisturising the skin prior to applying fragrance will usually resolve this problem. An even more effective solution is to apply a fragranced body lotion in the fragrance of your choice before applying the EDT, EDP or pure perfume of the same fragrance. Please see our section on 'Layering'.
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My fragrance doesn't last as long as it used to. What can I do about this?
It is an unpleasant fact of life that as we get older, our skin becomes drier as a result of our constant exposure to the effects of the sun, wind and pollution. Fragrance wearers who use an EDT should consider upgrading to the EDP which contains more essential oils or even switching to the pure perfume (see chart). An alternative approach is to 'Layer' your fragrance using a perfumed body lotion to moisturise the skin, prior to applying the fragrance which then builds a second layer on top and ensures a better last for the fragrance.
Most good specialist perfumeries (and certainly all branches of L'Aura Perfumery) will stock a range of body lotion testers and also EDP testers in a variety of fragrances, though maybe not in your particular favourite. Nevertheless, we recommend to customers who visit our stores with this problem that they try spraying an EDT on one wrist and an EDP on the other wrist and see which lasts longest and whether this solves the problem. The wearer should ask a friend or family member to check which smells strongest after 3 hours without telling them which is the EDP. Similarly, we then recommend on a separate visit applying just the EDT to one wrist and a perfumed body lotion plus the EDT to the other wrist and repeating the test. It is better to do this on two separate visits but if you want to do this in one visit, then use the wrist test for the comparison of the EDT and EDP and use the back of one hand for the body lotion + EDT, compared to only the EDT on the back of the other hand. It is worth writing a note to say which item was applied to which area, as it is very easy to forget which wrist has which combination.
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What is layering?
Layering is a way of building up the fragrance on the skin to increase the amount of time it lasts. First enjoy a refreshing shower or relaxing bath using the luxurious perfumed bath and shower gel. Then, sooth and smooth your skin with the perfumed body lotion and finally try a luxurious application of either the eau de toilette, eau de parfum or pure perfume. The fragrance will seem like it lasts forever.
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Why does a fragrance smell great on my friend but not on me?
The way a fragrance smells on the skin can vary hugely from person to person with different skin types significantly changing the effect of a fragrance. Certain fragrances and many EDTs will not work well with dry skin and in these cases, it is worth trying layering as described above or trying an upgrade to the EDP or pure perfume for reasons explained in the section on 'How Long Should my Fragrance Last'.
Oily skin can also affect a fragrance and those with oily skin should try applying their fragrance immediately after showering or bathing when the surface oil on the skin has been removed.
Other common causes of fragrances becoming adulterated include medication, hormones and diet. Certain types of medicine and drugs can adulterate fragrances and fragrances can smell differently as hormone changes take place in the body. Similarly, the body will pass strong food flavouring and spices such as garlic through the pores of the skin which can again react with the fragrance. If you are concerned that there is a problem with your fragrance, the best way to check is to spray some into a folded tissue and try smelling it yourself and asking friends or family for their view.
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What are top notes, middle notes and base notes of a fragrance?
Most fragrances are composed of ingredients that last for varying amounts of time. The Perfumer's art is to create a top note which grabs people attention and creates interest. The top note will fade after 20 minutes or so and the middle or heart notes will start to come through. This is known as the weft of the fragrance and it appears after the top notes have burnt off and the fragrance is settling on the skin. The heart note will be most noticeable between 20 minutes and 1 hour after application for EDTs and from 20 minutes to 2 hours for EDPs. Finally, the bottom or base note comes through and lasts from 1 to 4 hours in EDTs and 2 to 8 hours in EDPs. This is known as the tenacity of the fragrance - it is the time when the fragrance becomes itself and shows its personality (see chart).
Making these various ingredients work together and compliment each other through each stage as a perfume develops on the skin is a highly skilled art. It also demonstrates why it is preferable to wear a fragrance for some time before deciding whether or not to buy. All good perfumeries (and certainly all branches of L'Aura Perfumery) will have a wide range of testers for customers to experiment with new or different fragrances. Whilst there is no better test than wearing a fragrance on the skin, most perfumeries do have 'blotters' onto which fragrances can be sprayed and customers can take the blotters away to check over time to ensure they are happy with the fragrance at each stage of its development.
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Advice for Men: What is the difference between After Shave, After Shave Balm and Eau de Toilette?
After Shave is the traditional way in which men apply fragrance. It is usually applied to the face after shaving and has more alcohol and less oil that the EDT. Whilst it can sting a little on application, it tones and invigorates freshly shaven skin and acts as an antiseptic on cuts and nicks. The fragrance usually last 2 to 4 hours.
After Shave Balms are alcohol free and thus there is little or no sting when they are applied. They are ideal for sensitive skin and reduce redness caused by shaving irritation. Balms also replenish the moisture lost through shaving and protect the face against dehydration and dryness, whilst helping heal cuts and nicks. The fragrance lasts 1 to 2 hours and balms are especially recommended for men with dry or sensitive skin.
Eau de Toilettes (EDTs) are really the true fragrance and last 6 hours or more. They contain less alcohol and more oil than the after shave which gives the fragrance a longer 'last'. We would recommend that EDTs are not applied to the face but sprayed onto the major muscle groups of the chest, arms and front of the thighs. Whilst moving around during the day the working of these muscle groups creates a slightly higher temperature in those areas and encourages the fragrance to be given off.
We recommend that men who like to wear a fragrance that will be effective throughout the day use the EDT but in conjunction with an after shave or after shave balm for use after shaving (see chart).
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Do you have any good tips on shaving and how can I prevent 'razor burn'
For an effective wet shave, men must soften the hairs prior to shaving by wetting the beard and moustache area repeatedly with hot water or by placing a hot flannel on the area - this is to create the same softening of the hairs that traditional barber's shop achieve by placing a hot, damp towel on the area when shaving customers.
Apply shaving foam, gel or oil to the area to be shaved and allow a little time to soak into the hairs and further soften them.
If using a razor with changeable blades, try to use a heavy razor as this is less likely to 'bounce' off the skin and cause cuts. If using a disposable razor, try to change the razor each day. Disposable razors use low grade blades and when shaving, tiny pieces can break out of the blade. Tiny particles of hair and skin get caught in the blade which doesn't matter if you do then dispose of it. However, re-using the blade can cause the bits of skin and hair to be transferred into small nicks on the skin next time you shave. This is often the cause of blotchiness and small infections on the surface of the skin. If you suffer from this, please try disposing of your razor on a daily basis for two weeks and seeing if it clears up.
When shaving, start with the areas where the hairs are softest and do the areas where the hairs are strongest last. This gives your foam, gel or oil more time to soften the tougher hairs before you shave them. Start with the sideburn area before moving on to the area around the chin. Next shave the moustache area and finally the area of the neck. Most nicks are caused when shaving against the direction in which the hair grows (against the grain) but many men can only get a close shave by shaving against the grain, especially in the neck area. If this applies to you, try first shaving with the grain to remove most of the hairs before finishing by shaving against the grain to ensure a close shave.
Wash and clean the face thoroughly after shaving to ensure no cut hairs are left on the face and we would recommend using an after shave balm or moisturiser to replenish the moisture lost through shaving and protect against dryness. Why not try our great Boss Skincare range by Hugo Boss or our range of Men's Skincare by Clinique.
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New Launches at L’Aura’s Online Perfume Shop
Check out the exciting new perfume launches and discount perfume offers from our online perfume shop. Try the exciting Boss Pure, Davidoff Adventure, CK1 Summer, Usher He, Diesel Fuel for Life for Him and Her, or for ladies, the Usher She, Kylie Showtime, Indian Holi, Issey Summer or Paul Smith Sunshine.
L’Aura Online Perfume Shop offers FREE delivery on orders over £50
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01462 676880
