This page explains the words we use on every product page, so you know exactly what you are buying.
Concentration
Concentration is how much perfume oil is in the alcohol. More oil means a richer scent that sits closer to your skin for longer. It does not mean a "better" perfume - it is a different way of wearing one.
- Parfum (extrait) - the highest oil content. Rich, quiet, worn in small amounts.
- Eau de parfum (EDP) - high oil content. The usual choice for evening.
- Eau de toilette (EDT) - lighter. Fresher on first spray, easier for daytime.
- Eau de cologne (EDC) - the lightest. Bright and short lived.
We only state a concentration when our supplier confirms it. If a product page does not name one, that is because we were not told, and we would rather leave it blank than guess.
Notes: top, heart and base
A perfume does not smell the same after an hour as it does on the first spray. That change is deliberate, and it is described in three layers.
- Top notes are what you smell in the first few minutes. They are the lightest ingredients and they fade first - usually citrus, light fruit or herbs.
- Heart notes appear as the top notes fade and carry the main character of the fragrance. Florals and spices usually live here.
- Base notes are the heaviest ingredients and the last to appear. They are what is left on your skin hours later - woods, musk, amber, vanilla.
When you read a note list on our product pages, read it as a sequence, not as a list of ingredients you will smell all at once.
Fragrance families
The family is the broad character of a scent. We list one for every product.
- Floral - built around flowers, from single note to full bouquet.
- Fresh - citrus, green and aquatic scents. Light and clean.
- Woody - cedar, sandalwood, vetiver. Dry and warm.
- Oriental (amber) - vanilla, resins and spice. Warm and sweet.
Sizes
Our sizes are given in millilitres (ml), which is the standard measure for fragrance. As a rough guide, one spray is about 0.1 ml, so:
- 10 ml - a travel or purse size, roughly 100 sprays.
- 30 ml - a small bottle, roughly 300 sprays.
- 50 ml - the common everyday size, roughly 500 sprays.
- 100 ml - a large bottle, roughly 1000 sprays.
That is a guide, not a promise. How much you get out of a bottle depends on the atomiser and how heavily you spray.
How to apply it
Spray onto clean, dry skin at your pulse points - the wrists, the base of the throat, behind the ears - from about 15 cm away. Warm skin lifts a fragrance, which is why those spots work.
Do not rub your wrists together after spraying. It crushes the top notes and makes the fragrance fade faster.
Applying a plain, unscented moisturiser first gives the scent something to hold on to on dry skin.
Spraying onto clothing makes a scent last longer, but oils can stain fabric, especially silk and pale colours. Test somewhere hidden first.
How to store it
Perfume is damaged by three things: light, heat and air.
- Keep the bottle in its box, or at least out of direct sunlight.
- Store it somewhere cool and steady. A bedroom drawer is better than a bathroom shelf, because a bathroom swings between hot and humid every day.
- Keep the cap on. Every hour the bottle sits open, alcohol evaporates and the balance of the scent shifts.
- Do not decant into another bottle. Each transfer lets in air.
Stored properly, an unopened bottle keeps for years. Once opened, most fragrances are at their best for around two to three years. A scent that has turned usually smells sour or sharp on the first spray, and the liquid may darken.
Safety
Our fragrances are alcohol based and flammable. Keep them away from open flame and do not leave a bottle in a hot car. They are for external use on skin only - not for the eyes, not for broken skin, and not to be swallowed. Keep them out of reach of children.
If you have sensitive skin, spray a small amount on the inside of your elbow and wait 24 hours before wearing it properly. We do not make any medical or therapeutic claims about our products. If you have a skin condition or you are pregnant, ask your doctor before using a new fragrance.
Because perfume is a flammable liquid, carriers move it by ground transport only. That is why we do not offer overnight shipping - see our Shipping policy.