The world of fragrance is very large and surely there are still many words that escape your knowledge. In this glossary we leave you below, we review some of the most commonly used terms in perfumery so you can learn a little more about this wonderful universe. Take note!
divain Fragrance Dictionary
Essential oil
The essential oil is an aromatic substance extracted from different plants, flowers, fruits, spices, or woods. Although several processes can be used for oil extraction, the most common are distillation and cold pressing.
Cologne (Eau de Cologne)
Cologne stands out for having one of the lowest concentrations of essential oils on the market. This concentration is between 1% and 8% depending on the brand. Its duration is more volatile than other compositions like the Parfum or Eau de Parfum.
Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Eau de Parfum designates those olfactory compositions that have between 16% and 18% of essential oils. They are a good choice if you want to bet on a long-lasting and economical aroma at the same time.
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
The term Eau de Toilette refers to formulas that have an essence concentration between 8% and 15%. Its price is cheaper than Parfums and Eau de Parfums, and the duration of the trail is also shorter.
Gourmand
The term "gourmand" in perfumery is used to classify those sweet fragrances designed for the sweetest noses. Aromas with edible and irresistible notes like honey, chocolate or caramel. They are warm and are usually combined with other base notes like patchouli.
Layering
Layering is the art of combining fragrances that already exist to create completely new and personalised ones.
Raw material
Raw materials in perfumery are all those natural or synthetic ingredients used for the making of a fragrance. When several raw materials are combined, the so-called "chord" is formed, which can be simple or complex, depending on the number of notes mixed.
Nose
When we talk about the Nose behind a fragrance, we refer to the creator of that fragrance: the master perfumer. The one who is capable of giving an aroma a unique personality and creating indescribable sensations in people through each note that composes it.
Olfactory note
This is the name given to each of the different scents that can be distinguished in a fragrance. Generally, a fragrance is a set of olfactory notes whose combination gives rise to a unique aroma that characterizes it. There are three types of notes that can be recognized in a fragrance: top, heart, and base.
Top note or opening note
The top notes are those we smell first and therefore the first to fade over time. It is very common for the top notes to be citrus, fruity, or green.
Heart note
When the top notes evaporate, the body of the fragrance takes over, led by the heart notes. They are essential and are usually mainly floral and spicy notes. They take several minutes to develop on the skin and can last for hours.
Base note
These notes are the most intense and therefore those that last until the end. They are perceived after the heart notes and usually provide depth to the fragrance. They are heavy notes like woods or resins. Three of the most used ingredients for the bases of fragrances are amber, vanilla, and tonka bean.
Parfum
This term refers to the olfactory composition that has a high concentration of essential oil, between 20% and 30%. Thanks to this characteristic, its aroma is very long-lasting and intense.
Olfactory pyramid
The olfactory pyramid is a representation of the different types of olfactory notes that make up a fragrance, divided into three parts: top notes, heart notes, and base notes.
Sillage
The term "sillage" or "trail" is used in perfumery to define the olfactory trail that a person leaves behind after applying fragrance.
Vaporiser
A vaporiser is a container in which you can carry your favourite fragrances anywhere. At divain you can buy your vaporiser in mini format. It fits perfectly in any bag and you can refill it as many times as you want.
0 comments