Remember we discussed the power of a great scent several weeks ago? Well, I wasn’t disappointed. Feminin Pluriel by Maison Francis Kurkdjian did not disappoint.
Like all of his creations, it’s intoxicating and sensual. You wear one of his many scents and you literally fall-in-love with yourself, I’m not kidding.
Of course you have to choose the one that works for you, a person has to choose the right scent that works with their individual chemistry. A fragrance will never smell the same on any two people.
How to choose and wear the right scent for you? (exert from a previous blog post on Mylifeinbeauty.com)
I’ve made a few bad fragrance choices, and once made a huge mistake in practically bathing in a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle – not pretty. Never wear too much.
The changes of the seasons reflect our choices in clothing, skincare, makeup and fragrance. We also wear these items in accordance to the time of day/night and whether or not they are appropriate.
The Fragrance Wardrobe consists of fragrances for day/night, spring/summer, and fall/winter. This means that everyone should have three to six bottles of fragrance to choose from.
I once dated a man that had a fragrance wardrobe of 9 bottles – the most my fragrance wardrobe consisted of was three bottles at a given time, but in reality having a signature scent works too, it’s just finding the right fragrance that works with your lifestyle.
“Besides being very talented at creating fragrances, Francis has a great ability, which seems to be rare nowadays: he knows how to give volume to a perfume and also to make it last. What in French we call sillage and remanence. He’s obsessed with it. I also really like the way he introduces animal materials in his formulas, in a very subtle way, like hints of cumin (the spice) which has a “fur” effect on the skin.” – Lili Barbery-Coulon, Journalist, Le Monde Magazine
Fragrance is a base of three notes:
Top Notes – The initial introduction to the scent that lasts for the first 5-10 minutes, an introduction to the character of the perfume.
Middle Notes – The heart of the fragrance that defines the character, they give the scent depth and roundedness. Usually lasting for an hour or two depending on the concentration of the fragrance.
The Base: The long-lasting notes that appear 15-30 minutes after fragrance application and last throughout the day.
Applying Fragrance:
Pulse Points – the nape of the neck, decollete, behind the ears and knees because fragrance travels up.
“Wear Perfume wherever you want to be kissed” – Coco Chanel
Other Fragrance Tips:
Layering your fragrance with the use of shower gels, lotions, moisturizers, and after-shave ensures a long-lasting fresh scent throughout the day.
Take advantage of fragrance strips, and don’t be afraid to ask for samples.
Never over do it when making fragrance selections at the fragrance counter – take breaks in-between.
Spray the fragrance of choice on your person and not your clothing – fragrance can leave a stain.
Terminology:
Eau de Parfum – The strongest concentration that contains 15-22% essential oils.
Eau de Toilette – The average concentration consisting of 8 to 15% essential oils.
Eau de Cologne – 4 to 8% – a low concentration pf essential oils.
Eau Fraiche – 1 to 3%
There is also a difference between the EDT and EDP – these two vary slightly, make sure to ask questions.
A great fragrance marks your personal space, it’s also the finishing touch to a well polished and groomed appearance. I never leave home without a splash of my current favorite scent .
Word to the wise, if you are buying a bottle you are not sure of, ask for a fragrance sample to take home and try out for a few days, if it works then open the bottle you recently purchased or take it back. Most vendors do not take back bottles that are not in their original packaging.
A great way to test fragrances is to order samples online from leading fragrance houses such as Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Oh and Feminin Pluriel will be available at Neiman Marcus in September.
Happy Hunting!
City Girl in Red Lipstick 
Great posts. Thanks for sharing these tips.
Thank you for stopping by, and for reading it. It was a little longer than usual. Xxxx
All great advice and interesting information!
Thank you! Xxx