Perfumes are one of the oldest luxury items in the world. Egyptians were renowned for their use of oils and substances to create mixes of perfume (also known as parfum). According to Biblical passages, one of the first gifts given to Jesus two thousand years ago was frankincense, an expensive resin used for its scent. Today, perfume items stock shelves in department stores all over the world, with thousands of different brands and varieties. Almost every diva and rock star seems to come out with scent during their time in the limelight. Although some people use perfume and cologne interchangeably, they are very different and it is not only for gender usage. Perfume is usually 15 to 40% aroma mixed in water. Cologne, on the other hand is far less, usually 3 to 8% concentration. Some fragrances come in scents with an aftershave as well. That is an even lower concentration, usually below 2%.
The modern history of luxury perfume (known as parfumuri de lux)
Perfume became more widespread in the 1800s, when it became inexpensive enough so that many middle class women could afford it. Originally, it was made much in the same way as liquor, using an alcohol still. Eventually, many perfume users discovered a fine, non-staining oil worked best as a base for perfume, and the best oil for this process was the spermaceti held in the cranium of the sperm whale, which led to its massive hunting and near extinction. Its use in perfume was even mentioned in Moby Dick. Today, we have many artificial means of getting the same feel and scent as the older versions.
Today, perfumers use scientific means to decide which scents are preferred by men and women. These olfactory studies bring in hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Ingredients in perfume are not only limited to plants and animals today. Now there’s a bevy of artificial ingredients for perfumes.
The cost of perfume
Just like perfumes come in a wide variety of scents, they also come in a wide variety of costs. Counterfeit perfumes are separate from the costs of traditional perfumes. Counterfeit versions may look and smell like the real thing, but are faked. Usually these are sold online and in flea markets at a fraction of the cost of normal perfumes. The most expensive perfume (about $200,000) in the world is a little concoction called Imperial Majesty by Clive Christian. This specific perfume costs so much because the top is decorated with a five-carat diamond and 18-karat gold. Otherwise it is a much more reasonable $2,000 per ounce.
Great places to purchase perfume
Although department stores have hundreds of brands and scents in stock for both men and women, the Internet is still the best place to purchase perfume. Usually bottles come 20 or 30% less than department stores, although they do not have all the extras like soap, deodorant or a decorative fanny pack…but who uses those anyway? Companies offer the same guarantees and ship them in firm packaging, so a broken bottle of perfume or cologne won’t be a worry.
