Top fragrance picks for spring part 2 and some FAQ about fragrances

As promised here is the second part of all you need to know about fragrances. Here are questions I’ve gotten emailed in the past.

What is the difference between EDP and EDT? EDP stands for Eau de Parfum and EDT stands for Eau de Toilette. The compounds in a EDP are more concentrated than a EDT making EDPs smell stronger and last longer.
How do I test a fragrance in a store? Sniff it from the bottle if you like it then only pick 1 fragrance and spray it on your wrist. I like to wear it for a while to see if the fragrance transitions on your skin, if you plan on testing more than 1 scent use the coffee beans that should be by the counter to neutralise your sense of smell. I don’t like using the card board strips they provide in store as scent can smell different on different people.
Where should I apply fragrances? As Marilyn Monroe once said: “ spray your perfume wherever you would like to be kissed” Spray it on your pulse points but not all just pick 1. This could be either the neck, wrist, behind the ears, behind the knees or behind your ankle. Fragrances rise from your natural heat so the lower you spray it the more it rises. Also never rub fragrances once you’ve sprayed them this can break the compounds and end up altering the scent.
What is fragrance layering? This can either mean where you apply different scents on top of each other or when someone has dry skin it means where you buy those sets where it comes with the fragrance, body wash and body lotion with the same scent and you wash with the body wash then apply the body lotion and lastly spritz on the fragrance, this technique makes the fragrance last longer.
Why does the scent not last long on my skin? Mostly this has to do with dry skin as fragrances evaporate faster on dry skin. The best time to apply a perfume is straight after a bath or shower when the pores are still open. Also to add moisture to the skin invest in a fragrance free body lotion.
How must I store my fragrances? Heat, cold and light are enemies of fragrances. Boxes that the fragrances came in make great protectors of light. Every beauty editor has a fragrance shelf in their cupboards and that is the best place for fragrances.
What is the lifespan of a fragrance? If stored correctly it can range from between 3 to 5 years.
What are the current fragrance trends? For Spring 2015 there is a big focus on fresh, fruity and floral aromas.

Now lets continue with some newly launched top fragrance picks:

Vince Camuto amore EDP

Vince Camuto was a shoe and accessories designer which sadly passed away at the beginning of this year. The box is really massive which provides added protection. The lid has a beautiful intricate filigree design. The bottle itself is a true vision it wears a medallion of Vince camuto signature crest which symbolises commitment to excellence, enduring strength and family heritage. Amore embodies the fun and flirty expression of a woman falling unforgettably in love. Inspired by undying passion and romance. It is part of the floriental fruity fragrance family. Top notes include sparkling clementine ice, cassis bud, bergamot and passion fruit. The heart consists of wild muguet, blush orchids, fresh freesia, floating lotus. The dry down consists of silky sandal wood, cashmere accord, crystallised amber and musk. I quite like this scent it really does smell like love, even with the fruity and floral notes it dries down nicely to a sweet yet warm finish. The sweetness sickly sweet but more of a sweet floral. The sweetness is what gives it that playfulness. The opening smells strongly of passion fruit with a hint of bergamot which hangs for a long time, much later the passion fruit still lingers but falls into the background as lotus and freesia take centre stage lying on a bed of amber.

Mont blanc lady emblem EDP

This hands down is the most beautiful bottle I have ever seen! Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! This bottle draws inspiration from the Mont Blanc diamond which was cut into the shape of the Mont blanc logo. Even the cap is shaped as the mont blanc star and made from glass which is different since usually caps are made from plastic or metal. The box is also something special it is sealed at the top and opens like a gift box. Mont blanc is most commonly known for their gorgeous jewellery. This is the second fragrance from the brand, the first one called Mont blanc legend is one of my all time fav scents. Mont Blanc lady emblem is a symbol of light and elegance. This one doesn’t smell anything like the first one. The PR tells me these have been flying off the shelves in stores. Top notes include Japanese sake (holla all you alcoholics this is the sake you are use to drinking but please don’t attempt to drink the perfume as you might die but yes it is a very unusual note which I’ve never seen before), pink pepper and pink grapefruit. The heart is all about rose essential LMR, jasmine, sambac and pomegranate. Ends off with a base of sandal wood oil, amber and musk crystal. Initially I thought it was a oriental fruity scent but later it transformed into a more of a aquatic floral kind of like a mix between Issey miyake l’eau d’issey floral and Armani acqua di gio. I pick up a really strong opening of pink pepper and grapefruit which later settles to a pomegranate and jasmine with a hint of rose. You can find these at Foschini, Truworths, Edgars, Stuttafords, Red Square, Clicks and Dis-chem for R1095 for 75ml, R895 for 50ml and R695 for 30ml.

Yardley London bond st EDP

Bond street in London is where it all began for Yardley back in 1910. It is described as sophisticated and unique with a mix orange blossom, jasmine, patchouli solar, honey cedar and woody notes. This is part of the oriental floral family. Yardley has released a fragrance with the identical name in the past and judging by the notes it seems to smell similar but I can’t get hold of the original so I can’t compare. Judging from the feel of the fragrance it seems oil based which means lasting power is very long. I don’t think there are any levels to this fragrance, what you smell in the opening is what you will smell all day so you get all the scents of the notes at once. It smells sweet, warm and woody. It smells feminine but bold. Even though there is orange blossom it is not that strong so it doesn’t add freshness. This makes a great mysterious classic night scent. This is available from Clicks, Foschini, Edgars and Dis-chem for R395,95 for 50ml or R279,95 for 30ml.

Adam Levine for men

And finally one for my male readers. Ah Adam Levine he is sexy as hell and makes amazing music. When people see celebrity fragrances it is very easy to banish it to the celeb fragrance grave yard however this first fragrance from the sexy singer surprised me and is actually something I would allow my man to wear. The bottle is designed like a microphone which is quite appropriate since he is a singer. This is part of the woody aromatic family with top notes of mandarin orange, grapefruit, lemon grass, sage and violet leaf. Mid notes include passion fruit, guava and ginger. Base notes are cedar, sandal wood and amber. It is the cliché citrus but with a modern and more edgy twist. Smells really fresh, I get a lot of guava, grapefruit and ginger scent.