Perfume is a daily essential for women and men all over the UK, whether they are beautifying themselves for a big occasion, trying to create the right impression at work, or they need a pick me up after a tiring day. The beautiful smell of skilfully mixed perfumes is an inspiring, revitalising sensation, which is why the fragrance industry in the UK continues to bloom.
This buyer’s guide explains the various types of perfume available, how to make a perfume purchase, and how to find the best possible deals. Whether you are buying for yourself or you need a special gift, it will explain everything you need to know.
Perfume has been used by cultures all over the world for thousands of years. Unfortunately, we humans tend to create rich, organic aromas from our bodily processes…and not always pleasant ones.
Naturally people started to experiment. They found that flowers, essential oils and other natural substances could mask natural scents. Particularly among the upper classes, wearing perfumes became a mark of sophistication and power, and thus became inextricably linked to sexual attraction as well.
By the medieval era, chemists had discovered ways to distil essential oils from flowers like lavender or bergamot, more or less the same technique that perfume factories use today. Perfumery became a specialist skill during the Italian Renaissance, then 18th century France, spurred by the growth of a middle-class market (generally men who wanted to mask the stench of unbathed bodies).
It was then that the modern classifications of perfume emerged. Consumers started to demand eau de toilette, eau de Cologne, eau de parfum and simple parfum, with varying compositions and uses. We still use those classifications today, so it’s worth exploring what they mean.
Before looking at the types of perfume on offer, let’s quickly explain the basis of the product.
Perfume is a complex business, with a huge R&D infrastructure behind the biggest companies, but the beginning of perfume production processes could have taken place hundreds of years ago. Farmers grow and harvest crops with the right aroma and oil content, or animals are reared for their aromatic fats. These raw materials are carefully chosen, then transported to the perfume manufacturing centre.
Now, the oils held by the flowers or herbs are extracted. Several methods could be used here, including steam distillation, enfleurage (the capture of oils from plants by storing them in animal fats), maceration (leeching of oils from the plants that contain them) or solvent extraction.
Now comes the really skilful part. Each parfumier will employ specialists called “noses”. Their job is to assess the oils and aromas at their disposal, and then to mix them together into a finished product. As they experiment, they carefully log the concentration of each ingredient (and there could be hundreds in a typical scent). They also decide how much alcohol the ingredients will be mixed with (the alcohol keeps the scent fresh).
Finally, the scent will be aged - a process that can take many years for fine perfumes. The whole process is extremely intricate and, for the most elaborate scents, expensive. That’s why there’s such a price differential between everyday perfumes, which may contain a few ingredients and hardly be aged at all, and vintage varieties from famous labels.
The modern fragrance industry has done a great job in expanding the range of scents and perfume varieties available to consumers, but the basic set of templates was laid down in the 18th century and includes:
Eau de Cologne – First created by the Italian parfumier Johann Maria Farina in 1709, eau de Cologne is characterised by low essential oil concentrations of between 3 and 5%. It usually features citrus notes, along with herbs like rosemary, oregano or thyme and is heavily marketed at a male audience.
Eau de Toilette – Generally containing higher proportions of essential oils (between 5 and 15% is common), Eau de Toilette is classically used to fresh up skin after shaving and is very high in alcohol. The scent tends to be fairly florid with notes like lavender, geranium, violet or lilac (giving rise to the alternative name “flower water”).
Eau de Parfum – The classic perfume variety of scent, Eau de Parfum has a much higher concentration of essential oils, usually in the region of 20-25%. Much more complex in composition than Eau de Cologne or Eau de Toilette, perfumes almost always feature proprietary recipes, and we rely on intricate descriptions of their properties to tell them apart.
Does the concentration of perfumes make a difference? Absolutely. For one thing, more concentrated perfumes tend to be more expensive as well. However, many fragrance fans are happy to pay extra for more concentrated products. A single spray from a pedigree perfume on the wrist can last all day long, and the bottle as a whole will tend to last far longer as well.
The way that perfumes are described has its own language, and it’s vital to understand what the key words mean if you want to make an informed decision about which scent to buy. With that in mind, here are some of the most important “fragrance notes” you’ll come across:
Gourmand – Literally “greedy” in French, gourmand tones refer to smells that resemble desserts like vanilla or chocolate.
Citrus – Fairly self-explanatory. Involves notes that evoke fruits like oranges, limes and lemons and is generally found in refreshing aftershaves, but less so in women’s perfumes.
Green – Herby notes that are generally derived from plants like lavender or bergamot, that are redolent of cut grass or cucumber.
Aquatic – A relatively new classification that evokes the smell of the sea and relies on a synthetic chemical known as calone to achieve its results.
Bright Floral – Scents that are dominated by flowers, which could range from roses and lilacs to violets, and geraniums. Also includes floral bouquets, with a variety of flowers in a single scent.
Fruity – As the name suggests, evokes fruits like apples, strawberries, mango or currants (not citrus).
Woody – Often incorporates essential oils from aromatic woods like agarwood or sandalwood.
Leather – Smokier scents derived from substances like tobacco, tar or honey.
Fougere – Although fougere includes notes of wood, green or fruity tones, it deserves a place of its own. This base has a sharp herby and woody scent and is one of the most ubiquitous in the male perfume market.
When you look in more depth at fragrances, you’ll find that these “notes” are divided into three further categories: top, middle and base notes. The balance between these notes will determine which notes are dominant, how rich the scent is and, to an extent, how pleasurable the perfume is to wear. The right mixture varies by everyone’s unique tastes, but when you’ve found a balance that works for you, note it down and try to find similar fragrances in the future.
The way perfumes are made for men and women can differ dramatically, but there’s no rigid distinction between the two markets. Generally, the most obvious way to tell whether a perfume is suitable for men or women is via the marketing strategy of the company involved. They realise that purchasing decisions are driven by masculine and feminine impulses, and market what can be very similar fragrances in different ways to male and female demographics.
However, there are some fragrance notes that tend to appeal more to men. For example, leathery, woody, oceanic and strong notes will often be ideal for guys, while fruity, floral, light and fresh perfumes will have been formulated with women in mind. Again, there are no rules about this. It’s just marketing, so try out a few different notes to find a scent that works for you. You might be surprised by which ones hit the spot.
The modern perfume market is full of different products, packages and offers and it can be confusing to select the right item from such a wide array of possible purchases. Here are some of the different types of product you’ll come across as you search for scents at HotUKDeals:
Individual fragrances – Major brands like Jo Malone, Chloe, Cartier, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Tom Ford all offer premium scents in attractive packaging at online and high street retailers like John Lewis, Selfridges, the Perfume Shop or Boots.
Fragrance gift sets – If you have a favourite scent, you can often save money by choosing gift sets. These tend to include more than just the fragrance itself, coming with shower gels and items like after shave balms. Because of these added extras, they make a great festive or birthday gift for him or for her.
Travel fragrance gift sets – Some gift sets are specially designed for travellers, with individual fragrance bottles, along with much smaller travel sprays and skin balms to help rejuvenate jaded plane or train travellers. Other manufacturers also offer special travel refills, which are very handy for frequent fliers.
Branded gift sets – There’s never a shortage of celebrities willing to put their name to exclusive fragrances, and branded gift sets from the likes of Taylor Swift or Kelly Brook make excellent gifts for their fans.
Finding the perfect perfume is a tricky business, particularly when you are buying online, without any in-person assistance of the evidence of samples to guide you. We’ve talked a little about the various fragrance notes, and some of the varieties pitched at men and women, but there are other ways to find the ideal scent that might achieve better results.
One method is to think seasonally. Some fragrances are ideal for winter, while others have a freshness and lightness that seems made for summer. When the temperature rises, look for citrus notes and lively spices (nor richer notes like cinnamon or cumin). Green notes are also favourites come the summer, with their light touch and organic feel.
Another thing to remember about summer is that hot weather changes the way perfumes react. Heat and sweat activate the molecules in fragrances, so that they evaporate more quickly, but also smell more intense. Because of this, you can get away with wearing less powerful scents, but you may need to keep a bottle to hand in order to refresh your fragrance throughout the day.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, whatever the time of year. Some fragrance types (such as floral or fresh) may seem suited to women, but could actually be ideal for men who want a positive, light scent for their professional lives. Similarly, woody fragrances may seem instinctively masculine, but that’s not always the case. Musky scents can add a touch of exotic mystery to women’s aromas as well. Don’t feel limited, try samples and find your ideal fragrance.
Pay attention to the fragrance notes as well. Many people sniff perfumes and assume that’s how they will smell for the rest of the day. In most cases, they couldn’t be more wrong. The middle and base notes of well-made fragrances express themselves over periods of hours, not straight away, so the aroma will be very different an hour after application. Keep that in mind.
All of these things can help you find a well-balanced, seasonal, irresistible fragrance, but it still makes sense to sniff the perfume before you take the plunge. After all, perfumes don’t come cheap, and you don’t want to rush into a decision based on superficial first impressions.
Thankfully, the perfume industry has it covered. Many manufacturers provide free samples of their products for consumers to try before they buy. However, these offers aren’t always made obvious by major fragrance retailers. Instead, you’ll need to check out listings sites like HotUKDeals, where free samples are logged as soon as they are announced.
When you click on free sample deals, you will generally be taken to the website of the manufacturer, who will request a few pieces of information in exchange for the sample.
Check magazines as well. There’s a lively community of magazines dedicated to beauty, and most major perfume makers run adverts featuring free sample offers. Some retailers also offer free samples for new sign-ups (such as Ulta).
Generally, you’ll be sent a small vial of perfume, enough for a few applications. In some cases, you’ll just receive a piece of paper infused with the fragrance, which may seem disappointing, but can be used to freshen up sock drawers of just to add some fragrance to the rooms of your home.
Elite perfumes are expensive investments. So it’s essential to save as much money as you can. One way is to pay close attention to the fragrance notes of expensive scents, and then find copycat perfumes from supermarkets or lower-cost manufacturers that resemble them. However, this isn’t always necessary. By using voucher codes and other money-off deals, you can drive down the price of sophisticated scents, including prestige labels. You don’t have to settle for inferior products.
If you know your favourite brand or perfume, check the HotUKDeals perfume listings as often as possible. Eventually, you’re bound to find a perfume sale for the fragrance you adore especially at the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping event at the end of November as well as the January Sales, whether that’s a men’s Eau de Cologne or a vibrant women’s perfume. Then, just click through to the deal and make the purchase. It’s as simple as that.
Perfume isn’t just a luxury item. For millions of Brits, smelling good is an everyday essential. High-quality fragrances for men and women don’t come cheap but by following the advice in this buyer’s guide and checking the HotUKDeals listings, you can compare perfume prices and find a bargain.
