Evolution of modern perfume brands. How to buy the perfect perfume & smell great?

Perfume or perfumes in Latin means “through smoke” or the art of making perfume. The evolution of modern perfume dates back more than 3000 years in the past from ancient cultures, in India, Egypt,  China, and the Mesopotamian cultures. Itar or Attar from India, and fragrances inherent in the eastern incense sticks have existed for thousands of years. It's the Greeks, and Romans followed by the Arabs that perfected the distillation process. In the 14th century, Hungarian experts and perfumers crafted distillation methods under royal patronage creating the “Hungarian Water”.

Patronage and the appearance of modern perfume 

The fragrances were used in the ancient world for spiritual and religious connections and reserved for Royalty and priests, as a result, they received Royal Patronage. The perfume was also given as gifts to those who received Royal appreciation and patronage. With the advent of technology and the superior distillation process, the use became more widespread and popular. Guerlain under perfumer Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain, in 1828 Paris France was the first Perfume house headed by a perfumer. In the 19th century, Europe was at the cusp of the modern Industrial Revolution and colonization with access to exotic materials; the different notes and accessible ingredients made celebrities out of perfumers. Perfumes, which were increasingly privileges reserved for the rich, started to become more mainstream. The first modern perfume house Guerlain was family owned and operated for a century until 1994 when it was taken over by French Fashion giant LVMH. The house was the first of its kind to expand into skincare and make-up. Beauty Concepts has had the privilege to sell original Guerlain’s and associate with this brand that has been considered the epitome of French classic Fashion and beauty care. 

An Ode to Notes and the legacy brands in the World of Fragrance 

Approximately 17000 fragrances have been added and some 3000 have been discontinued, out of which some legacy brands have continued to enhance and make their presence felt from the 15th century till now in 2023.

Chanel no 5, Shalimar by Guerlain, Tabac for men. Our corporation BCPL has been associating with Tabac men's grooming exclusively in India, and the Cologne 4711 Ekw Eau De Cologne begun by Wilhelm Mülhens that has been selling Eau de Cologne in Cologne's Glockengasse since the late 18th century. These are some of these legacy brands that have endured the test of time, trends, and generations, to endure and still have a business now in the 21st Century is indeed a remarkable feat to achieve. Leading perfumers and companies that are at the core of the Fragrance industry - names like Takasago, Avon Products, and International Flavours and Fragrances to name a few among the giants of the fragrance business working to preserve the old combinations and newer notes of today.

How to select the perfect perfume for yourself and others 

Selecting the right perfume that compliments the user, or selecting the right perfume for your personal use is not rocket science, however, there are a few simple hacks that can be followed to achieve the perfect balance for hitting the right notes for the wearer. In short, the fragrance becomes you, a reminder of your presence; an enigmatic and seductive presence that lingers in the air. 

Here are some basic pointers that help you figure out the best scent to accentuate your presence:

• Try only three perfume smells at a time, even if your olfactory is great
• Skip the coffee beans and do a slow intake, let it sit with you before taking a smell of the next one, and bury your nose in your elbow instead to reset your pH factor, before taking in the next one 
• Begin smelling the lighter notes and then progress to the heavier ones - move from musky to citrus to fruity florals into heavier woods.
• Understand the notes that are on the top, followed by the heart notes or the heart of the fragrance and the base notes that form the foundation. The notes come together for you to enjoy what you are wearing
• Try to understand the notes- Here are 8 easy to understand that have been made simpler to understand courtesy of Erika Shumate and Christine Luby, the Stanford MBA founders of fragrance start-up Pinrose 

Musk: Musk is a clean-laundry scent.

Smoky: It can smell like a campfire burning, fragrant cedar chips, or a blown-out match.

Citrusy: Lime, lemon, oranges. It often feels a little like a spa with a nice yoga studio.

Woody: These scents can range from a creamy nutty flavour (like pralines-and-cream ice cream), to sandalwood, to spicy and dank like a musky old closet (patchouli), to an old No. 2 pencil (cedarwood).

Green: Includes the chalky aftertaste of a wheatgrass shot as well as a dewy moss on a spring morning.

Floral: Floral encompasses everything from white florals (gardenia, lilies, ylang, etc.), to roses, violets, to peonies.

Aquatic: Where 7 Up meets bubble bath.

Oriental: Incense sticks. It can be slightly powdery with a hint of spice or sweetness.

• Lastly, see how the Perfume settles down post a few hours. Chanel no 5 which is regarded as the best-selling perfume of all time, smells differently on different women due to skin, and humidity factors.

When it comes to selecting a perfume for other things does become a little more complex, but here are some tips well researched that will make this an easier task. The same tips can be applied to both men and women.

• What do they like to wear? Are they casual in their dressing, more laid back, and relaxed? Are they fond of wearing cashmere and silks, or do they enjoy outdoor activities? These are all factors that can help you decide what to choose that closely complements choices in clothing and lifestyle, try to match their personality
• Research on sites like Fragrantica that breakdown the notes and make the process of choosing more fun to research and read
• Choose the person with your sense of smell, not just the brand- let your senses lead the way when it comes to selecting the fragrance that works for someone, as opposed to choosing a brand just because it works well for others. 
• Lastly, what  do the notes remind you about, if that connection makes you want to connect with the person you are gifting, fragrances make for an ideal and thoughtful gift
• Move beyond perfume - look at body mist, lotions, soaps, and shower gels these can be good indications if the perfume purchase as a gift for someone will be appreciated. Body mists tend to be bought in conjunction with perfumes.

These are some of the steps that can make your perfume purchasing and gifting experience a wonderful and rich experience, not to mention a rewarding one.

The World of Fragrance - 2023 and the next decade to come 

While many new trends are being introduced, oil and cream perfumes are the newest trends. To have your hallmark scent is always an asset, however leading perfumers and big names are all reviving perfume and creating mixes that will be slightly heavy and long-lasting, but at the same time not too overwhelming. Big names are also taking their iconic perfumes into hair care, body creams, shower gels, and face misters; the perfume industry is in the process of transforming itself as per the trends that are leading for maximum outreach and versatility of the product. These trends along with sustainability, which is not a trend anymore but a necessity for brands to live and work with, big names in the perfume sector are also being open about sourcing and how much they are using and preserving. How many local communities are being supported while sourcing? Notes like Gourmand and Fruity Floral fragrances are all on the rise, as well as musk. The biggest shift and trend of all is the shift for self-expression that is driving products to become more diverse, and for you to be able to take your favourite fragrance from perfume to body care and hair care.