It is an industry that has existed for generations. Ancient Egypt was the first culture to popularize perfume in the form of oils and herbs and using it on a weekly basis to treat the skin.
Fragrance perfume comes in a variety of scents and is manufactured by a number of different companies; some of which have long been in the perfume business and others that augmented an already thriving business with a perfume line.
Fragrances are often associated with memories, emotions and feelings and can be used to bring these back to you. Fragrances are extraordinarily important cosmetic and personal care product ingredients for both men and women.
Modern men wear perfumes as an indication of their style and passion. Perfumes for men show the wearer's attitude and defines a fashion statement for him. The market is flooded with a variety of mens perfumes. When it comes to creating a long lasting impression on women or accessorizing their wardrobe, designer scents for guys occupy a supreme position.
Counterfeit fragrances are those that are sold under the designer name, with no statement showing that it is not the true, original fragrance at all. And since perfume recipes are generally a well-kept secret in the fragrance industry, none of the imitation fragrances are going to smell identical to the original designer scents.
Even though perfumes and fragrances are expensive (for both men and women), they are well worth the money, as they can conjure up a host of feelings, and be a pleasant experience for both the wearer thereof, as well as the people close to the person wearing the fragrance.
Both cologne & discount perfumes that have blends of floral and citrus-based fragrances are recommended for casual and daywear. Spicy, woody or warm amber-based fragrances are traditionally favorites for evening and special occasions. Oriental fragrances are a heady mix of spices, amber, balsams and resins suggesting warmth and exotic sensuality, and are also popular for evening wear.
Some fragrances are soft, some sharp and some are so strong that one can never forget its smell. Romantic, sensitive, sharp, cool and warm fragrances are there for different occasions and moods. Floral fragrances are best suited for a romantic night. Soft mild fragrances are better for the day and warm, sharp fragrances are a better option for parties and nightime.
In other European markets, including France and Spain, teenage-targeted fragrances are far more established, reflecting the tradition for mothers to use fragrances on their babies and young children.
Fragrances are added to cleaners, detergents and fabric softeners, burned in potpourri and used to deaden our sense of smell in so-cal�ed 'air fresheners'. Instead of more traditional methods of releasing fragrances into the environment such as sachets, candles and sprays, fragrances are now increasingly being embedded in consumer goods such as laundry baskets, storage containers, and sink stoppers to impart scent into the environment.
Fragrance perfume today has reached a level of variety and mass distribution that would have been hard to imagine in ancient Egypt. Consumers pay high prices for signature scents held within beautiful and unique bottles. And, yet, even as the complexity of perfume continues to evolve over time, its purpose will always remain as simple as it was during its humble beginnings.
by Lynn Harris
