Question: Why Some Perfumes are So Expensive
Answer: Extraordinarily expensive perfumes are expensive not because the branding is so posh (think Chanel, for example) but of their ingredients. If the ingredients are natural & it takes a trip to some odd country to pick the hard-to-find bloom (ok we're exaggerating) you're going to pay for it. Natural ingredients, such as tuberose & jasmine, are quite pricey. Real ingredients that are easier to come by or synthetic fragrances cost a lot less.
Every season a new rash of fragrances hit the market. So which ones are worth the bucks? I've read the magazines, sniffed the perfumes & given them a test run & these are the 14 best new (and not so new) fragrances for spring & summer.
Added bonus: Read on to the bottom to get an expert tip on how to make fragrance last without fumigating everyone on the elevator.
A Russian perfumer named Earnest Beaux formulated this famed perfume in 1921 for Gabrielle Chanel. There are lots of stories about the origin of this scent but my favorite goes like this. Beaux came up came up with five different scents and since Chanel was in the midst of a horrible headache, she instructed him to leave the bottles on the mantel. Minutes after he left, she sprang from the sofa and began sniffing the contents of the bottles. It seems that the fifth bottle caught her attention and bottle number five was chosen. Five was also her lucky number. True or not? No one really knows except Chanel herself. Today it remains one of the world's largest selling perfume.
You've probably heard of the aromatherapeutic benefits of essential oils. But if you've ever applied an essential oil to your skin, you know it doesn't last. The good news is that your perfume -- which is longer lasting and usually contains many notes -- can also affect your mood. Here are some suggestions for fragrance mood-boosters below: To help relieve stress: Look for lavender, vanilla, bergamot notes:
To energize and uplift: Look for green, citrus, grapefruit, lemon, pine notes:
To feel more sensual: Look for musk, sandalwood, amber or jasmine notes:
Because iVillage Beauty members love them: Check in with our Fragrance Divas board to find out what women are wearing and loving right now. And let them know which perfumes make you feel good.
If you wear perfume, you walk the fine line all the time ‑- between overdoing it and underdoing it. The goal is to wear enough fragrance to feel good and make the right impression. But how do you prevent yourself from smelling like you just shopped the fragrance floor at Bloomingdale's? Experts tell us it's a combination of using common sense, knowing your body chemistry and adhering to the rules in fragrance-free zones. Here's what they say.The cardinal rule is don't use too much. It may seem obvious, but sometimes we absent-mindedly spritz our pulse points, our garments, our hair, our necks, without thinking. That's overkill. "French perfumer Annick Goutal always said a great fragrance is the secret between one's self and one's self," says Tom Crutchfield, business manager for Etro Fragrances at Bergdorf Goodman and a 20-year perfume-world veteran. Think of it this way, he says: You want your fragrance to please you most of all, or those who get closest to you. "Once it goes beyond your two-foot to three-foot personal space, perhaps you put on a bit more than you want to."
Also keep in mind that you may not be able to smell your Chanel No. 5 anymore, he says, because it's been your favorite brand for years. "We get used to our fragrance, and people think, Oh, my gosh, I've got to wear more of it. But less is more." Crutchfield generally recommends applying one spritz per pulse point: at the nape of your neck (great when you swing your hair), behind your knee (if wearing a dress or skirt), on your cleavage, behind your wrist, in the crook of your elbow and behind your ears. How many pulse points is up to you ‑- but don't use so little fragrance that it's not detectable. "A lot of people spray the air and walk through it, but that doesn't really work," Crutchfield adds. "They're just walking through air."
Choose the right fragrance. During the day, lighten your scent, suggests Rochelle Bloom, president of the Fragrance Foundation. Often, more glamorous fragrances that are appropriate for evenings are just too heavy for cubicle quarters and subway rides. Look for light floral, green or citrus notes for the office. Casting agent Karen Dubin, who sponsors fragrance-buying trips in
Be conscious of fragrance-free zones. Some situations call for complete fragrance restraint, in consideration of others. Wine-tasting events and yoga classes are no-no's. While Curves International, the fitness franchise, does not have a policy concerning fragrance, some of the independently owned outlets post signs requesting that women refrain from wearing scents when they work out, since some members have allergies and the workout stations are close to one another.
Have fun! Now that you know not to overdo it, don't worry too much about how to do it. A favorite fragrance is unique to each person. So it's essential to follow your heart when selecting one. What do you wear for your wedding, or on a first date, or for a special anniversary? Bergdorf's Crutchfield says simply, "Wear something you love."
