5 Heavenly scents

Snap survey! Gold stars all around if you can tell us the difference between an eau de parfum and an eau de toilette. Don’t worry, we get confused, too. If you’d like to spritz into spring with a new fragrance, here are some noseworthy tips and scents we love for the season.

What are top, middle and base notes?

Top notes are usually lighter (and more volatile) scents that you’ll pick up immediately when the scent touches your skin. Middle notes (also known as heart notes) are the ones that form the “body” of the fragrance and link it to its fragrance family (such as an oriental or floral). They can take up to 30 minutes to develop properly on the skin. Base notes last the longest, so they’re the ones that will linger (such as musk and woods).

Why does my fragrance smell different on my friend?

Body chemistry influences how different notes react when sprayed onto skin. Lots of things will affect the “natural” smell of your skin (like your diet or any meds you’re on) and they will shape how a scent smells on you.

How can I make perfume last longer on my skin?

The concentration of scent is controlled during the formulation. However, we suggest you layer your scent to heighten fragrance applied to your skin. Use a fragrance line that has a shower gel, body lotion and scent spray. Tip: a body hydrator (like a lotion or cream) is a must, as moisturised skin “holds” fragrance longer.

What’s the difference between an EDP and an EDT?

An EDP is an Eau de Parfum while an EDT is an Eau de Toilette. The EDT is less strong as it usually contains only four to ten percent perfume oil, while an EDP has around eight to 15 percent oil in its formulation. That’s why EDTs are less expensive than EDPs. The advantage of the pricier EDP is that it will last much longer.

Our current favourite five

1. The ultimate floral whirlwind, Chanel N°5 L’EAU (from R1 600 for 50ml) is released locally on 1 September 2016. It’s perfumer Olivier Polge’s take on the iconic scent, and perhaps the sexiest version of it so far.
2. Described as Italy in a bottle, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette Spray (from R800 for 25ml) has notes that include citron, lemon and Granny Smith apple.
3. Stella McCartney POP Eau de Parfum (from R815 for 30ml) is an ode to free-spirited youth. You’ll want to bathe in this bright and breezy fragrance.
4. There’s something incredibly sexy about Sì Le Parfum by Giorgio Armani (R1905 for 40ml). It’s is a vibrant and sensual fragrance with a new intensely ambery accord with a notes of blackcurrant and bergamot. The bottle is elegance personified. It’s only available from 17 October 2016 but totally worth the wait.
5. Gucci Bamboo Eau de Toilette (from R1000 for 30ml) is an intense, graceful and gentle scent all at once. We also love the beautiful art deco lines of the bottle.

Additional text: Julia Hunter