The Difference Between Perfume Oils and Eau de Parfum

The world of perfumery is chock full with unfamiliar terminology and concepts, so much so that it might be impenetrable for the average person.  You might have heard of or seen perfume oils before, either in your local shop or even in supermarkets. But when you go to the perfume counter at a department store,…

Why Are Jo Malone Perfumes So Expensive?

Jo Malone is a British fragrance brand that has, since its inception in 1990, become perhaps the most popular and successful niche fragrance house on the market, along with Creed and Diptyque.  Their signature scents, like Wood, Sage & Sea Salt, Blackberry & Bay, or English Pear & Freesia, have been imitated countless times, and…

Loewe 7 Anónimo Review

Spanish designer house Loewe is far more popular for their fashion than for their fragrances. But don’t sleep on Loewe’s perfumes – they pack a punch in terms of quality, price, and performance.  7 Anónimo, a 2016 flanker in the popular 7 line, is just one example of that fact.  Loewe 7 Anónimo is a…

What Are Fixatives in Perfumery?

If you’re into the perfume hobby a little bit beyond the surface level, you might have heard the word “fixative” mentioned here and there.  It’s one word in a sea of often (sometimes deliberately) mystifying terminology related to perfume, along with terms like projection, sillage, and perfume concentration. But what exactly is a fixative? What…

Lalique Ombre Noire Review

French designer house Lalique is famous for their glassware. In fact, they are known to design and supply other brands with perfume bottles, such as for Nini Ricci’s L’Air du Temps and even a special edition of Tom Ford’s Black Orchid.  But Lalique has its own excellent (and quite affordable) line of perfumes, several of…

What’s the Difference Between Perfume and Parfum?

Perfume? Parfum? What’s the difference, if any, between these two oh-so-similar words?  Spoiler alert: the difference is very slim.  “Perfume” and “parfum” mean effectively the same thing; in fact, “parfum” is the French word for “perfume”. However, “parfum” also refers to the concentration of a fragrance, i.e. “eau de toilette” and “eau de parfum”.  Want…

What Lasts Longer: Eau de Toilette or Parfum?

If you’re at all familiar with fragrances, you’ve probably heard the words “eau de toilette” and “eau de parfum” or “parfum”.   Almost every designer brand is putting out a “parfum” edition of their fragrances nowadays, from Dior to YSL to Paco Rabanne and everything in between.  But what exactly do the words “eau de toilette”,…

What Lasts Longer: Perfume or Cologne?

The world of perfume is chock full of terminology, a lot of which goes pretty much undefined. Most people can’t tell an eau de parfum from an eau de toilette, much less a perfume from a cologne.  So what is a perfume? What is a cologne? And which one lasts longer?  Perfumes are much longer…

EDT vs EDP: What’s the Difference?

EDT? EDP? Just what in the blue blazes are these strange acronyms?  The world of perfume is nearly bursting at the seams with jargon, a lot of it (nay, most of it) in French. For your good ol’ cornfed average Joe, it can be a lot to handle. But never fear – that’s why I’m…

Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin Review

French designer fashion and perfume brand Lolita Lempicka became famous in 1997 with the release of the legendary Lolita Lempicka, which quickly rose in the ranks of the best selling women’s fragrances in the world. Inspired by fairytale and magical forests, Lolita Lempicka is a unique and playful perfume with notes of licorice, ivy, and…