Page 16 - Phonebox Magazine November 2014

Love Lana
“A fragrance will inspire you, and finding the right one should be a creative adventure.”
Question: What makes the perfect fragrance?
Answer: You do!
There’s something about a perfume that makes you feel beautiful, attractive, confident or just happy. When you first spray it on, it brings with it a few seconds of sheer pleasure and somehow placates your soul.
It doesn’t matter whether you are having a fat or a thin day, a good hair or a bad hair day, your chosen fragrance will never let you down.
Each fragrance is a uniquely complex composition, just like you are and you need to find one that represents who you are and what you represent. A fragrance will inspire you, and finding the right one should be a creative adventure.
It should also be remembered that, like with any fashion dressing, you come to learn what suits you best – but that doesn’t mean you should ignore all other styles and colours. So if you can, pamper yourself with several fragrances and spray them on each day according to the mood you’re in. Not just day and night favourites but light-hearted, girlie, mischievous and sophisticated fragrances –a variety is fun to have around (not to mention how beautiful they look on your dressing table), and then there’s the season, weather and occasion to take into account!
To seek perfection, however, you need to have ‘scents’ of knowledge.
When we smell we all take on different ‘notes’. When the first scent or note
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dissipates we smell the middle note known as the bouquet. Finally we are left with the base note (note to self . . . don’t commit until you smell that final note!).
There are four main variations:
EaudeCologne...thisis3-5%oilinamix of alcohol and water. It tends to be lighter, refreshing and typically citrus.
Eau de Toilette . . . between 4-8% perfume oil mixed with alcohol and no water.
Eau de Parfum . . . again the percentage of perfume oil increases to about 18% plus the alcohol.
Perfume (Parfum) . . . perfume is 15-30% perfume oil. As you will have guessed by now, the higher the percentage of perfume oil, the higher the price!
Ladies, take time to explore the wonderful range of aromas such as citrus, floral, fresh, oriental, sweet, spice and wood. Gentlemen, for you fragrances include these plus more masculine ingredients such as musk, mosses and leather.
Think what they mean
Floral – freshly cut flowers, roses, violets, lilly and jasmin, sweet and easily recognisable – essentially very female. Citrus/fruity/fresh – oranges, lemon, lime, grapefruit as well as apricot, apples peaches pear etc. Clean, light, invigorating and full of energy.
Oriental/spicy – warm vanilla, spices and incense, amber and musk, a sense of mystery with touches from the Far East. Woody/chypre – bergamot, oak moss and patchouli, all smells earthy!
So choosing your Signature Perfume is
a very personal journey and the ultimate perfect choice will complement your own body chemistry.
At the first stage of research, spray on a card or in the air in front of you. If it appeals then spray it on your skin, but where it’s warm such as the inside of your elbow, behind the ear or inner wrists. Allow time for the ingredients to develop or maybe it won’t . . . or maybe it doesn’t smell the same on you as your best friend, try not to be too disappointed, it’s just that the notes were not the right ones for you. There is a fragrance out there for you.
If your skin is on the dry side moisturise using the complimentary body lotion to your fragrance or a non scented body lotion, then spray your chosen fragrance, this is called layering and it will hold the aroma longer, thus using less fragrance. Take care not to wear your fragrance with heavily scented deodorants, lotions or powders which will interfere and potentially clash. A useful tip too, is to apply it immediately after a shower or bath when the skin pores are open and will be absorbed more easily and intensely into the skin.
Finally, our sense of smell is keener as the day wears on as well as in warmer weather. The best time of day, therefore, to determine your fragrance choice is later in the day rather than early.
Simply enjoy the experience of choosing a fragrance. It’s a hard one to beat and puts a print on your personality and your individuality. Because you are unique.
For a Personal Consultation to help discover your unique fragrance, visit or contact Love Lana of Olney 01234 714537.