It's often said that fragrances reveal personality. These beauty essentials, which both men and women possess, add a touch of elegance and uniqueness. Perfumes are luxurious and delicate products, so it's important to preserve them in optimal conditions to enjoy their fragrance to the full.

First of all, what are the different types of fragrance? 

Perfumes are highly concentrated products made up of different ingredients , the blend of which produces a pleasant scent. Whether it's Dior, Guerlain, Chloé or Lancôme, there are hundreds of brands and thousands of fragrances with different notes: all have their own composition, ingredients and dosages.

In fact, there are three types of perfume: oily, solid and alcoholic.

1. Oily fragrance

Mainly composed of natural ingredients such as Jojoba, sweet almond or sesame oils, oily fragrances are simple to create and perfect for small budgets.

They also have the advantage of moisturizing properties for the skin.

So, if you're tempted by oily fragrances, choose a substance that's soluble in oil to avoid obtaining a two-phase content.

2. Solid perfume or perfume concrete

Although less well-known, solid perfumes are no less effective.

Widely used in the ^20th century, they are not in liquid form, but in compact block form. They are therefore easier to transport and more economical.

Unlike conventional perfumes, the main ingredients of concretes de parfum are soy wax, vegetable butter and vegetable oil, which are diluted in a balm-like base.

As a result, these scented balms don't evaporate, so they're very rich in scent, allowing the fragrance to last longer on the skin - behind the ear, on the wrists or on the upper chest. 

3. Alcoholic fragrance

Alcoholic fragrances are the most widely used.

All alcoholic perfumes are composed of two main ingredients:

• Alcohol, especially ethyl alcohol

Alcohol is the main component of perfume. It dilutes the fragrant substance, without having any impact on its odor.

Once applied to the skin, alcohol evaporates faster than fragrances, as it is highly volatile. It's also what gives you that touch of freshness when you apply it.

• The odorant

The odorant substance, or odorant concentrate, is the element that gives the fragrance its odor.

Alcohol and fragrance are inversely proportional: the more fragrance a perfume contains, the less alcohol it will contain, and vice versa.

In your favorite perfume shop, you've probably wondered several times about the difference between perfumes, eaux de parfums, eaux de toilette and eaux de Cologne... Few people know this, but it's actually the distribution between the alcohol and the odorant that determines the type of fragrance:

• Perfume or extract: 20% fragrance with 95% alcohol
• Eau de parfum: 15% fragrance with 85% alcohol
• Eau de toilette: 10% fragrance with 85% alcohol
• Eau de Cologne: maximum 5% fragrance with 70% alcohol

What is the shelf life of perfumes?

Depending on their composition, alcoholic fragrances do not all have the same shelf life, although they can generally be kept for up to 3 years after manufacture.

Since alcohol prevents the fragrance from oxidizing, perfumes with a high alcohol content can be preserved a little longer.

What's more, most fragrances come with a PAO (Période Après Ouverture)This is represented by an open jar and a number - usually on the product packaging. This indication lets you know how long you can use your perfume after opening it, which is really handy!

Perfumes that have reached the end of their useful life "don't fade in intensity, but the scent tends to oxidize, to become sour, sometimes acidic or metallic or with notes of plastic", as Amandine Pallez, Creative Director at Bvlgari Parfums, explains; and their color also tends to yellow.

So, even if the DTP has not been exceeded but you still notice a change in smell or color, it's best to stop using your fragrances, for olfactory reasons.

However, don't rush to throw them away, because you can give them a new lease of life by using them for the interior of your home, for your car, for your handbag, for your shoes or even for your laundry!

What's more, the perfume bottle can be recycled and used for other purposes!

So what's the best environment for your fragrances?

Although the alcohol present in alcoholic fragrances acts as a preservative, it evaporates over time, even more so if the fragrances are exposed to harmful external factors.

Here are the precautions to take to preserve your alcoholic fragrances:

• Don't shake your perfumes

Contrary to popular belief, shaking perfume is not a good idea, as it can shorten its useful life.

• Protect your fragrances from the air, and especially from oxygen

Air oxidizes fragrance. It is therefore essential to close your fragrances tightly after each use to avoid any risk of oxidation.

• Keep fragrances away from humidity

It's also important to protect your fragrances from humidity. Humidity diminishes the quality of fragrances and degrades their olfactory properties.

• Protect from light

Perfumes, and in particular their olfactory molecules, are sensitive not only to sunlight, but also to artificial light. It is therefore important to protect them, in particular by leaving them in their original box and putting them in a dark place so that they are not damaged by light rays.

• Protect your fragrances from heat and temperature variations by storing them in a cool environment.

Exposure to heat may cause your perfumes to change scent or turn yellow, as high temperatures accelerate chemical reactions, altering the balance of the fragrance. We therefore strongly advise you to store your perfumes in a cool environment, ideally between 10 and 12°C.

That's why Refrigerated Beauty Box from Beautigloo is ideal for ensuring that your fragrances retain theintensity of their scented notes without suffering the harmful effects of environmental factors.

Thanks to the ideal temperature, adjustable between 8°C and 14°C , this mini fridge with patented technology not only protects your fragrances from UV rays, but also ensures optimum preservation.

In addition to featuring ventilated cooling to minimize the presence of humidity harmful to your fragrances, the Refrigerated Beauty Box also protects them from temperature variations.

Once placed in the small fridge at Beautiglooyour perfumes are sure to be protected from any harmful external factors, so they can be used for longer without their color or fragrant notes being altered.

Author: Aurélie SAM