Although we are ~the~ beauty authority, we are legit shocked by some of these common misconceptions about fragrances. For instance, have you ever visited the perfume souk in Dubai, spritzed a scent on your wrist, and proceeded to rub both wrists together before smelling? Perhaps you take a deep inhalation of coffee beans between smelling different scents. We’ve seen our mothers, sisters, and friends do these practices for years, however, they may be based on more myth than fact. We spoke to Johana Monange, founder of Maison 21G founder to debunk some perfume myths.
Myth #1- You need to smell coffee beans to clear your nose.
“I have never smelled coffee beans during a scent evaluation. It will not clear your nose but actually block it. If you want to reset your nose, you can smell your own skin or go outside for a walk for fresh air.”
Myth #2- Amber is a stone.
“There are two kinds of Amber used in perfumery. The first is grey amber which comes from whale vomit that floats on the sea for years. This gets cooked by the sun and the salt of the sea. It smells very strong and costs a lot.”
“Amber 83 is an iconic accord/base of De Lair. In 1889, legendary base, Ambre 83 was born. An intricate blend of the recently discovered synthetic Vanillin, along with natural ingredients including Vetiver, Patchouli, and Jasmine. This exceptional base led to the creation of Jicky de Guerlain (1889), the oldest continually produced fine fragrances in the world.”
Myth #3- Perfumery is French.
“Interestingly, perfumery was first born in Ancient Egypt 2500 years ago and the first perfume was called Khyphi.”
Myth #4- Rub your wrists together to apply your perfume.
“I advise not to rub your perfume on your wrist after applying it. This will create heat and friction which is not good for the natural ingredients and citrus of your formula. It is better to dab softly and blush some air to let alcohol evaporate a bit.”
Myth #5- Hair mist is different from perfume.
“Hair mist is just a eau de toilette with more water and less scent concentrate and some solubiliser. You pay something quite expensive for a cheaper formula of your perfume. You can spray your original perfume on your hair. Alcohol will just dry a bit your hairs if you put too much.”
Looking for a fun activity to do? You can now customise the scent of your soul at the newly opened Dubai Hills Mall French parfumery, Maison 21G. This bespoke boutique is home to an innovative perfume bar featuring 35 haute couture scents for you to mix and match to create your own signature blend.
