CLEOPATRA'S BOUDOIR

FAQ's About Perfumes

1. What is the Difference between Perfume, EDC, EDP, EDT & Cologne?

    

   The differences are simply a matter of the amount or concentration of oils in the fragrance.

   
   

   The highest concentration is in pure perfume (or parfum/extrait). Next would be Eau de Parfum, then Eau de Toilette, and finally Eau de Cologne. Some manufacturers make a solid perfume, solid perfume is as strong as a pure perfume however it is in a gel or wax-like consistency. Eau De Toilette and Eau De Cologne are generally interchangeable, especially in Men's fragrances. After Shave has the least amount of oils. The higher the concentration the longer your fragrance will last, and the less you need to apply.

   
   

    

   Use this easy chart

    

    

   • Splash or Aftershave (usually 1-3% perfume oil)
   • Eau de cologne (2 - 5% perfume oil)
   • Eau Fraiche (Usually 3% or less perfume oil)
   • Eau de Toilette (4 - 10% perfume oil)
   • Eau de parfum,also called parfum de toilette,eau de perfume or millésime (8 - 15% perfume oil)
   • Soie de Parfum (15 - 18% perfume oil)
   • PARFUM or Pure Perfume (15 - 25% -- also sometimes referred to as extract or extrait) Perfume oil (15-30% perfume oil in an oil rather than alcohol base)

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

   
   

    

   You may also see the term Parfum de Toilette, this is rarely seen in the industry. This variation on perfume contains 90% strength. Most companies use this term to describe a concentration that is either the same as Eau De Parfum, or between Eau De Parfum and Parfum. Other companies use the term to describe an Eau De Toilette concentration

   
   

    

   The intensity and longevity of a perfume is based on the concentration, intensity and longevity of the aromatic compounds (natural essential oils / perfume oils) used: As the percentage of aromatic compounds increases, so does the intensity and longevity of the scent created. Different perfumeries or perfume houses assign different amounts of oils to each of their perfumes. Therefore, although the oil concentration of a perfume in Eau de Parfum (EdP) dilution will necessarily be higher than the same perfume in Eau de Toilette (EdT) from within the same range, the actual amounts can vary between perfume houses. An EdT from one house may be stronger than an EdP from another.

   
   

    

   Men's fragrances are generally colognes or eau de toilettes and are rarely as EdP or perfume extracts. As well, women's fragrances are rarely sold in EdC concentrations except for Guerlain, Coty, Dana, etc). Although this gender specific naming trend is common for assigning fragrance concentrations, it does not directly have anything to do with whether a fragrance was intended for men or women.

   
   

    

   Furthermore, some fragrances with the same product name but having a different concentration name may not only differ in their dilutions, but actually use different perfume oil mixtures altogether. For instance, in order to make the EdT version of a fragrance brighter and fresher than its EdP, the EdT oil may be "tweaked" to contain slightly more top notes or fewer base notes. In some cases, words such as "extrême", "intense" or "concentrée", that might indicate aromatic concentration are sometimes completely different fragrances that relates only because of a similar perfume accord. An example of this would be Chanel‘s Pour Monsieur and Pour Monsieur Concentrée.

   
   

2. What Do Fragrance Notes Refer To?

   The composition of a fragrance is of many different ingredients, each of which varies in scent and staying power. Different ingredients come to life at different stages. The industry refers to the stages as notes.

   
   

   The top note is the initial impact of a scent on the sense of smell. Top notes are very light and last just a few minutes (5-10 minutes).

   
   

   The middle note, or heart, develops a few minutes later. Middle notes become apparent in about 15 minutes after application.These can last up to an hour or more.

   
   

   The base note, or foundation provides the most lasting effects of a fragrance. Bottom notes are the heavier ingredients. These last the longest, usually for several hours.

3. Why do fragrances contain alcohol?

    

   Perfumers use different types of alcohols in their perfumes. Why? Alcohol makes the fragrance emanate from your skin. Without alcohol, you would be the only person who knew you were wearing any fragrance at all.

   
   

    

   Perfumer's alcohol is the professional diluent used to make fine perfumes, colognes, after shaves, eau de toilette and other alcohol-based fragrance products.

   
   

    

    

   Formulators alcohol is made with SDA40B, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl alcohol. It's designed for use with products that require the addition of water, including colognes, aftershave, hair spray, linen sprays, hand sanitizers, astringents and self preserving lotions. Clear products may be made using this technique.

   
   

4. Why do fragrances cost so much money?

   You're not just paying for famous labels and costly containers.  Fragrances contain a certain amount of natural ingredients, which are expensive. Flowers have to be hand picked and hand processed. They have to be hand laid on sheets petal by petal and pressed. To make a pound of rose oil, it takes well over a ton of flower petals, and this cost can range from three to four thousand dollars. The same is true for most essential oils.

   
   

   But above all, if you do purchase a higher end perfume, you are also buying the brand name of the perfume, for instance, when you buy Chanel No. 5, you are buying the prestige, notoriety, and reputation of the Chanel name. The same idea applies to Tiffany & Co, you are buying the high quality associated with that name.

5. How should I and where can I apply perfume?

   As a general rule, fragrance should be applied to pulse points. This is where the blood vessels are closest to the skin giving off more heat and acting like mini fragrance pumps.

   
   

   Pulse points are the wrist, behind the ear, crook of the arm and back of the knee, and the base of the throat. Also, for long lasting fragrance spray at the ankles, it allows the fragrance to blossom up. For a sexy twist, apply perfume to your cleavage or spray perfume on your nude body before dressing. The nape of the neck, is a very romantic area, whenever your hair moves it might swish the perfume around, nice little subtle trail of perfumed loveliness.

   
   

   Apply perfume right after you take a shower or bath. Your pores are more open then and will more easily soak up the scent. Some people say that rubbing the wrists together will crush the scent, I tried this with different perfumes over the course of two weeks, just to see if its true, it seemed to me that the friction of rubbing the wrists together actually heated up the fragrances and made them seem more potent.

   
   

   I have read though that the perfume can react not so nicely to the first layer of skin..and give off a smell that isnt pleasant. Others say that to spray the perfume in the air and then walk into it, I have done this before, and it seems that it lets you control the amount of fragrance that is applied to your skin, rather than spraying directly onto teh skin, this works best with heavier perfumes

   
   

   . I spray perfumes on my clothes when I want to make the scent last longer, I wont spray perfume on fragile fabrics like silks or lace. You can spray your coat with perfume. Also an old tip is to apply pure parfum extrait to your furs. Doing this is up to your own discretion.

   
   

   Do not apply perfume after you put your jewelry on, take it off first, then apply the perfume. The chemicals in perfume can leave stains or have chemical reactions to the metals, Pearls are especially susceptible to damage from perfume since it destroys their lustre.

   
   

   Coco Chanel always said to apply perfume where you want to be kissed. I read an old perfume guide from the 1930s and it mentioned that you can apply perfume to your fingertips and eyebrows. Also apply perfume to a cotton ball and tuck it into your brassiere. Apply perfume to your hankies or gloves.

   
   

   Jeanne Lanvin of Lanvin Perfumes suggested that you should apply perfume wherever your clothes cover your body, that way it will seem if it is coming from within and blend with the natural oils of your skin to make a truly individual fragrance. She also says the best time to apply perfume is 15 or 20 minutes before you are about to go out, that way the perfume has time to "set".

   
   

   A 1924 ad for Ann Haviland perfumes suggests:

   
   

   #1. to apply perfume to your eyebrows as the short hairs of the eyebrows retain the perfume longer than the skin since evaporation takes place more slowly.Besides, this is an ideal two-some,the girl usually comes up to a man's chin, not far below his nose. 

   #2. One little known method of applying perfume is to saturate a piece of cotton with your chosen scent, place it under the shoulder strap of your slip. Body heat releases an aura about you.

   #3. A glamorous method of using perfume is to spray it on the hem of your evening gown, then as you walk or dance, the fragrance is wafted into the air around you. This is the best way to do it.

   #4. Another pointer is to apply perfume to the inside of your gloves, while your gloves are on, the warmth of your hands attract the perfume which will cling to the fingers.

6. How can I tell if a fragrance will be a lasting one before I buy it?

   Jeanne Lanvin, creator of Lanvin Perfumes suggested in 1938, to put a few drops on your fingertips, then wash your hands several times.  The aroma from a perfume that has reasonably lasting qualities should still be discernible. 

   
   

   This is great advice, purchase a sample or use the tester in the store apply a few drops, then go to the nearest restroom to wash your hands and see if the perfume is a lasting one, if you are satisfied by the longevity, you can easily return to the shop to purchase without going all the way home.

7. How long will a fragrance last on me?

   First I must mention that all manufacturer's and perfumes are different. But the general rule is that fragrances are designed to last about 4 hours or so. Some people may notice that a particular fragrance lasts all day but by then it will not smell as fresh as it did when first applied.

   
   

   You must re-apply once or twice a day. Try not to over-apply as your nose will start getting used to the fragrance but may still smell strong to others.

   
   

   Many people like to layer their fragrances, starting with body wash/soap, scented lotion and then the perfume. Some companies like Thierry Mugler also have ancillaries like scented talc or powder, and hair products to match their perfumes.

8. What other uses are there for perfumes?

   You can put a few drops of your favorite fragrance in a bath or a few drops in the water when washing your clothes, lingerie and synthetic wigs, or use on gift items (Cards, Fruit basket, etc) as well as on artificial flowers and tissue papers. You can also spray onto your bed or pillows. Pure perfume splashes may stain, so use with caution. Add some perfume oil to a ring diffuser on your lamp. Apply your favorite perfume to a cotton ball and stick it in the air vent of your vehicle. That way the scent is diffused.

9. Should I only wear fragrances on special occasions?

   In my opinion, No. You should wear your fragrances as much as you want throughout the year. Perfume is meant to be worn and smelled. No need to have it sit there unused on your vanity. Also, perfume does go bad, after awhile, the notes will turn sour and your perfume will be wasted.

   
   

   A 1951 article about perfume does mention that "It is a mistake to think you have to finish a bottle of perfume once it is opened. Seal it up tight and keep it in a dark place if you are tired of it."

10. Why do fragrances smell differently on different people?

    Body chemistry, diet and age affect fragrances on their skin. Also, fragrance consists of many essential oils. Certain essential oils have affinity to our skin, and they may be absorbed while other may not. This creates an imbalance on the skin and accounts for the difference.

    
    

    How does skin type play a role? Oily skin holds scents much more than dry skin. So those with dry skin need to reapply more often. Also, what a person eats can alter scents, strong, spicy foods can make a perfume smell differently.

    
    

    Also if you smoke, you lessen a perfume's effectiveness, and not just because the smell of the tobacco smoke overpowers it, but tests done by a major perfume manufacturer in 1982, showed that nicotine actually causes changes in body chemistry, so that perfume is less likely to stay on a smoker's skin. If you can no longer smell it, you will probably keep applying it, which in turn, you might end up applying too much and offending others in the process.

    
    

    If you live in the city, excessive air pollution will also take a stranglehold on perfume ingredients and renders them powerless to produce teh rigth effects. 

    
    

    Medications too can change the effect of your fragrance, whether they are internal or external.  For a logical reason, the purpose of medication is to bring chemical help to your body, but while it's helping your body, the chemicals could easily kill or distort your perfume. 

    
    

    During menstruation, some women cannot smell certain aroma chemicals , which explains why they may think perfume is letting them down at this time. 

11. How can I keep my fragrance from going bad?

    Keep all fragrances in a cool, dry area, and away from windows as sunlight can unbalance the various ingredients. An opened bottle should be kept in its box to insure a longer shelf life. Air oxidizes perfumes, after awhile it can make the notes turn sour and no longer fresh. As perfume gets old It darkens and thickens and its scent changes. The more tightly sealed it is, of course, the less the danger-or the slower the process.

    
    

    Heat can also destroy a fragrance so keep it from extreme temperatures. Colognes and eau de toilettes ONLY (not parfum) may be kept in the refrigerator in order to maintain their freshness, but this is not neccessary.

    
    

     

    Question: I have heard perfume should be stored in a cool place. How cool? Is room temperature OK? Or should it be in the refrigerator?

    
    

    Answer: Perfume is best stored in a cool, dry, dark place, inside its original packaging. A bathroom or bedroom drawer or cupboard, away from light and humidity, is ideal. Room temperature is fine.

    
    

     The refrigerator is too cold, however for pure parfum and eau de parfum. Some of the oils in the fragrance might congeal, which will alter the scent. Also, if the bottle is not tightly sealed, fatty items in the fridge, such as butter and cheese, might absorb the scent of the perfume and that certainly would't taste good to anyone even with the best of taste (pun intended).

     

    As to when a perfume is "off," a change in color, especially a darkening, might signal deterioration. But not always. So trust your nose. If your perfume develops a bitter or sour note, it's time for a fresh bottle.

    
    

    Fragrances usually last 18 months to 3 years from the date they were manufactured, not the day you buy it. 

    
    

    If you are lucky enough to have a large bottle, of the dabbing type, you can decant some into a small atomizer so that you can use it more often. Then you can take some paraffin wax and melt it around teh mouth of your dauber bottle so seal it, then you can store it away in a dark, cool place so that it will keep longer.

12. Why am I not aware of my fragrance after I have worn it for awhile?

    The sense of smell becomes quickly fatigued. After a period of smelling a fragrance you become used to it and may not be able to smell the scent. The scent is still there and can be very strong to others. Try not to over apply during the day.

13. What does the term layering mean?

    Layering is the process of applying fragrance items with the same scent. To avoid fragrance clashing, that is the wearing of several different scents together, unless the two scents compliment one another to create an even more wonderful fragrance.

    
    

    Shampoo, cream rinse, deodorant, etc. all have their own fragrance. Depending upon what you use, the conflicting scents can detract from the one scent you want to stress, that of your perfume.

    
    

    In one day you may come in contact with as few as 10 or as many as 30 different scents. Therefore layer your fragrances using matching shower gels, shampoo, body powder, hair products, body lotions or oils then perfume to compliment your overall fragrance wardrobe. This helps retain your fragrance and make it last longer.

14. My perfume doesn't smell exactly the same as it did years ago? What happened?

    Taking into consideration that you havent bought a fake/counterfeit perfume. Many of the old perfumes have been discontinued because they were simply too expensive to make any more. Also, there are new regulations from the EU which restrict some of the ingredients that were essential to them, like oakmoss for example.

    
    

    Many other of the classics have been re-worked and reformulated to be cheaper or use acceptable ingredients, or modern formulations, which is why they sort of smell like the originals, but not really -- they're synthetic re-creations most of the time. Perfume companies usually won't reveal when they change formulas, they just add the new ones into the marketplace.

    
    

    Sometimes the older formulations make it to the discount stores or ebay. Other times if you still want that old, original formula you'll have to stick with vintage perfumes.

    
    

    Companies like Irma Shorell/Long Lost Perfumes, and Scentmatchers make recreations that are close, but many customers say they are way off. Your best bet is to buy the original bottles.  

    
    

    Here's a better explanation from an anonymous poster from NST :

    "I couldn't agree more about the difference between vintage and reissued Diorling. But it's not entirely due to the avarice of accountants deciding to have it made with cheap ingredients and thinking no one will notice because no one remembers them well enough… It's not only oakmoss-type regulations.

    
    

    It's also a side-effect of a decades-old practice in perfumery: the company that employs the perfumer and manufactures the oils for, say, a couture house, is the only one to have the actual formula: Dior never saw the formula for Miss Dior, Diorissimo, etc. Why was that? Because there was no contract between the couture house and the perfume company, so the only way the perfume company could ensure their profits is by hanging on for dear life to the formulas.

    
    

    Say Edmond Roudnitska made Diorama and Diorissimo: it was actually fabricated in his factory near Grasse, but as he had rather small facilities, he subcontracted this and that bit of the formula to other Grasse labs. Now if one of those labs shuts down, the particular base that they made is lost forever.

    
    

    So even if Roudnitska's estate has the formula, they can't make Diorissimo or Diorama exactly like the man composed it. In some cases, like Diorling maybe, they may not even have access to the formula at all, so they knock together a simile based on what they can do with analysis of the original. The companies that actually made it, or bits of it, may be long-gone. This is even more striking when brands change hands — maybe this is the case of Je Reviens, which went steadily downmarket from being a scent from the first couture house in history. The current owners are manufacturing a reproduction from an imitation from an approximation, using cheaper and cheaper ingredients at every reformulation.

    
    

    So add cheapness + regulations + the tradition of secrecy in perfumery, and there you go. All this info comes from an impeccable source, by the way: Mr Jean Kerléo, founder of the Osmothèque"

15. Why is some packaging different than what i had purchased before?

    Manufacturers sometimes have different packaging for different markets, different times, marketing or regions. The product you receive is genuine up to date manufacturer products. Many companies want to update the looks of their fragrances to appeal to younger audiences too.

16. Is it important to change fragrances according to the different seasons of the year?

    As a general rule, Yes, since heat increases the intensity of a fragrance. There are certain fragrances that are more appropriate for summer and other stronger scents that would be better for winter use. A good guideline to follow is to wear lighter scents in the summer and stronger in the winter. Citrus scents are perfect for summer while orientals are better for winter.

17. How do I know if perfume goes "off"?

    As to when a perfume is "off," a change in color, especially a darkening, might signal deterioration. But not always. So trust your nose. If your perfume develops a bitter or sour note, it's time for a fresh bottle.

    
    

    Each perfumes has a shelf life. Typically a perfume can last up to 18 months. If kept stored in a dark, cool place, it can prolong the life of a perfume. Perfume deteriorates from two factors:  light and heat.

    
    

    Oriental perfumes tends to have a longer shelf life than aldehydic, green, citrus perfumes. Orientals tend to be warm, ambery, vanillic and woody. 

18. Are natural substances better than synthetics?

     

    Not necessarily; synthetics are of equal value to the perfumer. There are extremely expensive natural components and reasonable synthetics and vice versa. Some natural synthetic odor components are more stable than the natural ingredients. Therefore, they are more desirable to the perfumer.

    
    

     

    Also taking in consideration the usage of natural animal derived substances used in perfumery, for thosands of years, civet, castoreum, ambergris, and musk have been staples in fixatives in perfume manufacture. The collection of these substances in many cases, involved the killing of the animal. Today, we have excellent synthetics that mimic these scents so that the killing of the animal is not necessary.

    
    

19. Can I still wear vintage fragrances?

    As a rule, you must be aware that all perfumes will start to degrade after around 3-5 years and this in turn causes the perfumes to "turn". They will develop a very strong alcohol odor or may turn a sour smell. Sometimes the top notes of a perfume may disappear or will be altered. This smell generally dissipates after a while and the heart and base notes of the original perfume will come out. If a perfume has been stored correctly, there is a chance it may still smell nice, though not as fresh as it one was.

    
    

    So buyer beware. If it is a pure perfume extrait, your chances of it retaining its original scent are far greater than with a cologne or eau de toilette. However, some women have expressed that some vintage perfumes still smell wonderful. I myself have a perfume that is over 100 years old, and it smells fresh and spicy!

20. I am pregnant-- can I still wear fragrances?

    Important: Pregnant or nursing women should thoroughly research perfumes/fragrances before using products that contain such ingredients. Also, you may be more sensitive to perfumes and find that some scents make you nauseated, light-headed, agitated, or more prone to headaches. To prevent as many unnecessary symptoms as possible, try to keep a fragrance-free environment until you discover some scents that will help you feel good.

21. What is a tester? What is an unboxed item?

     

    Unboxed items are a great way to save! They are the same as the boxed version, always original, fresh and authentic. Why are they unboxed? Sometimes boxes can be damaged in transit, torn. or in less than perfect condition. We can buy these items cheaper than the boxed versions and we pass the savings on to you. Be sure to take advantage of great unboxed deals.

    
    

     

    Some perfume bottles may be testers, but we will point that out when listing. Testers are even more discounted than the fancy boxed versions and are great if you don't have a need for the fancy packaging. Testers are 100% authentic, fresh and completely full just like the original, however they are meant for the counter at a department store. They ship in a plain brown box and sometimes don't have a cap on them. The savings on the packaging means you save even more!

     

    If an item is unboxed or a tester,it will be noted in the title and description. If not marked as such, please assume it is brand new, factory sealed and not a tester or unboxed item.

    
    

22. Types of perfume products:

     

    • Parfum: also called extrait, is the highest concentration of perfume. A perfume may contain 22-30 percent oils and high grade alcohol, and a slight amount of water. Parfum is the most expensive type of perfume. Any mixture lower in oils is known as an eau.

    
    

    • Eau de Parfum: is composed of 15-18 percent of essential oils with a slightly weaker alcohol and water.

    
    

    • Eau de Toilette: also called toilet water, is a much thinner dilution of the same materials, containing approximately only 4-8 percent of essential oils, in an even weaker alcohol and water mixture.

    
    

    • Eau de Cologne: for men or women, or aftershave, is further diluted, about 3-5 percent of essential oils, in an even still weaker alcohol and water mix.

    
    

    • Eau Fraiche: a cologne or splash with a purer alcohol.

    
    

    • Natural Spray: is a fragrance that uses a non-aerosol pump to emit a fine mist.

    
    

    • Moisturizing Skin Spray: a fragrance that is alcohol free and contains moisturizers to keep skin feeling soft and silky.

    
    

    • Creams and lotions: most creams contain a fragrance content that is same as that of the eau de toilette, five percent essential oils. The rest of the formula is a blend of lanolin, beeswax, mineral oil,lard, shea butter, cocoa butter, petroleum jelly, or other fats and oils.

    
    

    • Stick perfumes, pomades and solid perfume: an essential oil dissolved in wax, sometimes some other fats are blended in to make it easier to apply to the skin.

    
    

    • Soaps and soap products: composed of fatty acids and a small amount of essential oils.

    
    

    • Bath Oils: a combination of fifteen percent essential oils blended with mineral oil, lanolin, or other fatty oils of plant origin.

    
    

    • Bath salts: essential oils added to sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium carbotage.

    
    

    • Bath powder: essential oils mixed with talc or cornstarch. The talc is ground very fine and is purified , sometimes supplemented with china clay and starches. It is then sifted through silk screens.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    
    

23. How many milliliters are in an ounce?

     

    
    

    Here is a quick conversion chart:

    
    

    • 1000 ml = 1 liter
    • 900 ml = 30 oz
    • 800 ml = 26 oz 
    • 700 ml = 23.6 oz
    • 600 ml = 20 oz
    • 500 ml = 18 oz
    • 450 ml = 16 oz
    • 400 ml = 14 oz
    • 350 ml = 12.3 oz
    • 300 ml = 10.5 oz
    • 250 ml = 8.8 oz
    • 200 ml = 7 oz
    • 150 ml = 5.2 oz
    • 100 ml = 3.3 or 3.4 oz
    • 90 ml = 3.2 oz
    • 80 ml = 2.9 oz
    • 75 ml = 2.5 oz
    • 60 ml = 2 oz
    • 50 ml = 1.6 or 1.7 oz
    • 30 ml = 1 oz
    • 15 ml = 1/2 oz
    • 10 ml = 1/3 oz
    • 7.5 ml = 1/4 oz
    • 5 ml = 1/6 oz
    • 3.7 ml = 1/8 oz = 1 dram

    
    

    Note that all of these are approximate; strictly speaking, 1/2 oz is 14.787 ml. A standard perfume sample is in a 1/32 oz (1 ml) vial.

    
    

24. When should I throw away my old makeup & beauty products?

     

    Most cosmetics are made to be used with two years. Tp help extend the shelf life of your cosmetics, store them in a cool, dry place outside of your bathroom. Toss out anything that is cracked, leaking, or has a bad odor.

    
    

    Also don't share your makeup, this can transfer bacteria from one user to another. Another tip - do not ever add water to your cosmetics, this is a breeding ground for bacteria.

    
    

    Here are some useful guidelines that help take the guesswork out of this question.

    
    

    Mascara - three months to six months, no exception. This product expires the fastest. To keepit fresh during the three month duration, don't pump it in and out of the tube, this only causes the product to dry out faster, instead, swirl the wand aroun the sides.

    
    

    Concealer - up to one year.

    
    

    Waterbased foundations - up to one year

    
    

    Oil based foundations - up to 18 months

    
    

    Powders - up to three years

    
    

    Powder eyeshadow - up to three years

    
    

    Cream Eye shadows - if the cream gets runny or changes consistency or smell in other ways before six months, throw it away

    
    

    Eye & lip pencils - up to three years. Always sharpen before use to keep them fresh.

    
    

    Liquid eye liner or lip color - six to 12 months

    
    

    Cream blush - up to one year

    
    

    Lipsticks - up to four years, but most will advise you to throw out afer 2 years. Regardless, if it starts to smell rancid, throw it out -its spoiled. To help keep lipstick lasting longer, store it inthe refrigerator.

    
    

    Moisturizer - up to one year

    
    

    Cosmetic sponges - wash weekly, discard monthly

    
    

    Brushes - wash once a month at least with warm water & mild detergent

    
    

    Nail polish - up to two years

    
    

    Body wash - up to two years

    
    

    Body lotion - up to three years or more

    
    

    Shampoo & Conditioners - up to two years

    
    

25. How do I test perfume properly?

    Finding a scent that has an affinity for your skin is done by trial and error and eventually triumph.  Try not to sniff from the bottle, since you will only get the alcohol fumes. One reason for this is the alcoholic gases form in the neck of the bottle and when you smell a scent from the bottle, these gases are what meet the smelling organs rather than the true overtones and undertones of a well blended perfume.

    
    

    Rather, rub a few drops on the inside of your wrist and inhale the aroma. In placing it on the skin, allow the alcohol vapors to evaporate before smelling for the reasons above.

    
    

    
    

     Use your other wrist to try the second scent and the crook of your elbow for the third. Then you can get the true impression of each fragrance.

    
    

    Try just one drop, on a wrist perhaps, you'll notice a small quantity as much as much as a lot.  Don;t be in haste when looking for a new perfume. Wear it for an hour to let the lasting notes blossom before you make a decision.  Don't sniff too many bottles at once, too much perfume paralyzes the olfactory nerves, sniff coffee bean in between perfumes to give your nose a break. 

    
    

    Apply perfume on your wrist and to avoid confusion, try out no more than 3 or 4 perfumes together. Also be careful about using perfume if you are suffering from asthma.

    
    

    Also remember that price is not the guide for quality. Your only guide is what you like to smell.

    
    

    
    

26. What does the little degree symbol next to a number mean on a bottle of perfume?

     

    The degree symbol simply means the amount of alcohol present in the perfume/colognes/etc.

    
    

    Perfume extract (Extrait): 15-40% (IFRA: typical 20%) aromatic compounds

    
    

    Eau de Parfum (EdP), Parfum de Toilette (PdT): 10-20% (typical ~15%) aromatic compounds. Sometimes listed as "eau de perfume" or "millésime".

    
    

    Eau de Toilette (EdT): 5-15% (typical ~10%) aromatic compounds

    
    

    Eau de Cologne (EdC): Chypre citrus type perfumes with 3-8% (typical ~5%) aromatic compounds

    
    

    Splash and After shave: 1-3% aromatic compounds

    
    

27. Why do some perfumes last so long?

    
    

    Fragrances are complex mixtures of natural and synthetic chemicals diluted in alcohol (ethanol, specifically). That alcohol is the first thing to evaporate, which is why you should wait a few seconds before smelling a perfume on your skin. (If you don't, you'll get a nose full of booziness.) Once the alcohol is gone, the scent ingredients—known as top, middle, and bottom notes—develop. Top notes are fleeting (think citrus); you smell them first and then they disappear within a few minutes. Middle notes create the body of the scent and are usually floral or a combo of fruity and floral. Bottom notes are the fragrance anchors; they're the heaviest and stick around the longest. These are often woody, smoky, or musky. So if your favorite scent has serious staying power, it probably has more base notes in the mix.

About Cleopatra's Boudoir

1. Where do you find your information?

   I gather most of my knowledge thru various reference books, websites and hands on experience. I am always purchasing new materials to find the best information possible. Also scoring old perfume advertisements and catalogs helps me date or describe a perfume or bottle more accurately. Research takes a lot of time, and in most cases, with books, a lot of money. 

2. Where can I find all of your eBay guides?

   Hi, you can find all of the guides I have written here at this link:

   http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/cleopatra*s_boudoir_W0QQuqtZg

3. Do you have any other websites?

   Yes, I have a website called the Lalique Perfume Bottle Database. This website shows all of the perfume bottles created by Lalique, plus a gallery of misrepresented and fake Lalique bottles. You can visit the site here www.laliqueperfumebottles.com

   
   

   Another website I created is for 1920s-1930s Perfume Atomizers. It gives details about manufacturers such as DeVilbiss, Volupte, Mignon, Pyramid, Marcel Franck, Aristo, Czechoslovakian and French manufacturers. You can visit the site with this link: www.perfumeatomizers.webs.com

4. I would like to donate to Cleopatra's Boudoir, how can I help?

   Donations are always welcome. If you would like to make a monetary contribution, you may send any denomination to my home. I will furnish my address when requested.

   
   

   If you have a book, bottle, powder box, company catalog, auction catalog, or any ephemera and want to donate them, email me at cleopatrasboudoir@gmail.com and I can send my address.

   
   

   I am actively seeking the following books:

   
   

    

   1. Perfume Presentations:100 Years of Artistry by Ken Leach
   2. Guerlain Perfume Bottles Since 1828 by Michele Atlas and Alain Monniot
   3. Commercial Fragrance Bottles by Ball & Torem
   4. Fragrance Bottle Masterpieces by Ball & Torem
   5. Coty by Elisabeth Barille
   6. Les Parfums du Monde by C &D Berger
   7. DeVilbiss Perfumizers & Perfume Lights: The Harvey K Littleton Collection
   8. La Legende du Chevalier d'Orsay: Parfums de Dandy by Monique Cabre
   9. Caron The Secret Charm of a Perfumed House by Gregoire Colard
   10. Guerlain by Colette Fellous
   11. Parfum-Flacons by Beatrice Frankl
   12. Perfume Fantasies by F. Ghozland
   13. R. Lalique by Felix Marcilhac
   14. Precieux Effluves/Scentsfully Precious by Jean Marie Martin-Hattemberg
   15. The Antiques of Perfume by Leslie G. Matthews
   16. The World of Perfume by Fabienne Pavia
   17. Scent Bottles Through The Centuries: The Collection of Joan Hermanowski
   18. A Guide To Sandwich Glass by Raymond E. Barlow
   19. Scent Bottles Through The Ages  by Lynda Brine & Nancy Whitaker
   20. Lancome by Jacqueline Demornex
   21. Le Memoire des Parfums by Clarence Duchesne
   22. Fragrances of the World by Michael Edwards
   23. The Fragrance Adviser by Michael Edwards
   24. Perfume Legends:French Feminine Fragrances by Michael Edwards
   25. Objets de la Beaute a Collectionner by Laurence Mouillefarine
   26. Heavenly Scents by Pamela F. Taylor
   27. Paul Poiret and his Rosine Perfumes by Christie Mayer Lefkowith
       
   28. The Art of René Lalique flacons and powder boxes by Christie Mayer Lefkowith