Perfumery 101

Only one time in my life have I ever been offended by a perfume – it was loud and it smelt like curry. Yes, I have wondered too, if it’s just curry, not perfume. But you know a perfume from a curry, so there’s that.  Not only was her perfume bad-smelling to the point of […]

Perfumes are not vegan and cruelty-free because their manufacturing involves the exploitation of animals in different ways, including the usage of animal-derived elements and animal testing.

Handkerchief perfumes are quite cheap, especially in India, and often expected to not have any colour liquid as it might stain the cloth. It is also more volatile than other perfumes because it has a high alcohol volume. 

The woody parts of some plants are equally important in the world of perfumery as sandalwood, agarwood and cedar wood have been some of the most loved notes in perfumery.

Spiritual fragrances are fragrances in the form of oils or incense made using dried herbs, essential oils, etc., that can help in connecting with spiritual realms and natural healing. The mixing and creation of these fragrances involves meditation techniques and utmost care.

No, perfumes cannot be made without chemicals, because perfumes or any form of fragrance, whether natural or synthetic, are chemicals. These chemicals can be either nature-based or man-made. However, if you are wondering if perfumes can be made without synthetic chemicals, then the answer is ‘yes’.

Do you consider yourself a perfume lover, and wonder what it takes to become a perfumer? From experience to professional education, becoming a perfumer is a challenging road. Only a sense of smell and a creative mind may help one compose a fragrance but becoming a master perfumer demands certain qualities that only come with

Companies like Oriflame use technologies like scented ink and microencapsulation to advertise perfume in their catalogues. They customise ink with the scent of the perfume and encase it in micro-sized capsules which gives out controlled release of scent when rubbed.

DNA of a fragrance can be defined as the unique olfactory profile of a perfume which contains unique structure and information, just like in human DNA. This unique profile comes in the form of notes and accords, longevity, projection, etc., which is a result of perfume composition – unique ratios and combinations of ingredients. 

Fine perfumes, or fine fragrances, are officially classified under the cosmetics category, but they can also be seen as an accessory or a luxury product. For many centuries, perfumes were restricted to only royals and elites. Today, as so many master perfumers work their creativity behind each release, perfume can also be called a form of art. Note that perfumes in general have many uses and purposes which range from religious rituals to aromatherapy, which means it can be classified based on its uses as well.