Not all that long ago, ladies perfume was one of the most popular gifts at birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Even though the latest and greatest cell phone or designer bag may top a lot of wish lists, perfume is still an excellent choice when you want to make a more personal statement.
Of course, not just any perfume will do the trick. The fragrance a woman wears is a very personal statement. Some prefer one of the more traditional scents such as Opium from Yves Saint Laurent, a classic that has been a favorite for many years. Others try to emulate their favorite celebrity and for them the best ladies perfume might be Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds, Britney Spears’ Believe, Halle by Halle Berry or Fairy Dust from Paris Hilton.
Whether you are swayed by the latest promotion or prefer to stick with one of the brands that has been on the market for some time, you should be aware that there is more to perfume than the name on the label. Each fragrance is usually available in different chemical formulations, depending on the concentration level of aromatic oils, which are diluted with a solvent such as ethanol.
The manufacturing of perfumes is big business with more and more competitors entering the market alongside the industry giants. Ingredients and how they’re combined are guarded as closely as national defense information. Generally, though, most perfumes fall in one of the following categories:
Perfume extract: 15–40% aromatic compounds
Eau de Parfum (EDP): 10-30% aromatic compounds
Eau de Toilette (EDT) : 5-20% aromatic compounds
Eau de Cologne (EDC) : 2-8% aromatic compounds
It should go without saying that your efforts to win the heart of someone special will not be advanced by just grabbing something off the discount aisle at your local Walgreen’s. Unless you really know what you’re doing, it might also be wise to avoid the knock-off, smell-alike kiosks at the mall.
You needn’t mortgage your home for Imperial Majesty from Clive Christian Perfume. It is rumored that Katie Holmes wore it on her wedding day but $215,000 for a 16 ounce bottle is a bit steep for most of us. What’s important is that you put the time and effort into giving something that matches the personality of the recipient. Sometimes just the fact that you’re paying attention can be the greatest gift of all.
