PERFUMEUAE.COM

FAQ

Products

Q. ARE ALL YOUR PRODUCTS FRESH AND GENUINE?

A. Definitely, 100%. We never sell anything other than genuine brand items on our website. Our products are sourced from around the world, so a small number of the products sold on our website may look slightly different from what you have at home, but the products are still 100% genuine and produced by the original manufacturer for that particular brand. For example, a product sold in the US may differ in appearance from the same product sold in France or Japan, but the product is still genuine.

Q. WHY ARE YOUR PRICES LOWER THAN MALLS AND RETAIL SHOPS?

The prices are low due to our extremely lower overheads. When you buy perfume from a retail store or malls you're paying for: 

* the cost of the actual perfume (wholesale price) +
* sales clerks' salary +
* lease/rent for the store +
* utitilies (electricity, water, heating, etc.) +
* the cost of all the pretty display cases and display items +
* the cost of all the tester perfumes +
* enough extra so the store makes a profit +

Just because our prices are competitive doesn't make our product range inferior or knockoffs.

DO YOU STATE PRICES ON THE INVOICE? 

Invoices with prices are only sent by e-mail to the purchaser. A printout copy of the invoice is also sent across with the order.

Q. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING NOT LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE?

A. Quite possibly. We have an extensive global supplier network which ensures our product range is latest and best on the internet. So we just might be able to find what you're looking for, If you have ordered an item before but don't see it listed anymore, it is most likely just sold out. We are normally able to replenish stock within a week so keep checking regularly. If the item you're looking for has not been re-listed after a week, please contact us and we can advise when new stock is likely to arrive. Contact our products department at cs@perfumeuae.com

Q. WHAT IS MY ORDER NUMBER?

A. After you have completed the payment, your order will be placed and for your convenience, Perfumeuae.com will send you an e-mail confirmation of your order after it is placed. This e-mail states your order number.

If you are still unable to locate your order number, you can contact our Customer Service via e-mail: cs@perfumeuae.com or 04 2389510 so we may assist you with locating your order number. You will need to provide information such as your name, email address and date of order so we can locate your order.

Q. WHY YOUR FAVOURITE PERFUME DOESN'T SMELL LIKE IT USED TO?

A. Perfumes get reformulated all the time, and they always have. Sometimes companies substitute cheaper ingredients as a cost-saving measure. Sometimes once-plentiful natural materials become scarce or extinct. And some materials, such as natural animal-derived notes, have been replaced with synthetic substitutes because of consumer preference and/or trade restrictions.

Sometimes ingredients are found to be unsafe, and sometimes, especially with older perfumes that relied on pre-made specialty bases, they simply don't exist any more. And sometimes, of course, perfumes are reformulated to bring them in line with modern tastes.

It's also important to remember that perfumes that rely on natural materials might have subtle variations from year to year anyway. A crop of jasmine from one year might smell different from the prior year, and a crop of jasmine from one part of the world might smell different from the same plant grown elsewhere.

Perfume houses, for obvious reasons, don't tend to publicize reformulations.

After all, who wants to hear that their favorite perfume is no longer exactly the same as it used to be? Also remember that a perfumista's idea of reformulation — the perfume no longer smells the same — may not be the same as that of a perfumer or a perfume house. If Australian sandalwood is substituted for now-scarce (and costly) Indian sandalwood, you could argue that the "formula" hasn't changed, but to a perfumista, the result is the same: the perfume doesn't smell like it used to.

So how can you find out if a perfume has been reformulated? Well, the best way is to trust your nose. Trusting your nose, however, has its own pitfalls. It's important to remember that the last dregs of your three year old bottle of perfume won't smell the same as a brand new tester even if the formula hasn't changed at all.

Q. HOW TO APPLY PERFUME?

A. It shouldn't take rocket science to figure out how to put on perfume. You just spritz it on your wrists, rub them on each other and behind your ears, and you're good to go, right? Maybe. But since you've spent almost a hundred dollars for that fabulous bottle of perfume, you may as well do a little research on how to wear it well.

Cloud of scent or targeted sprays?
Some people spray a mist of perfume in the air and then walk through it. They say that the scent then disperses evenly over their bodies. However, if you walk through the cloud of scent clothed, not much perfume lands on skin where it can warm and develop.

targeting sprays of perfume - Spray once on skin. The scent then warms and rises so that it leaves a quiet trail. If the fragrance is subtle, spray on neck, so that the scent is closer to nose. Do scent your wrists sometimes so that you can get to know a perfume better by sniffing your wrist. Another place to dab scent if testing it is on the fleshy part of the back of your hand, between the thumb and index finger.

Spray clothing or not?
"Of course not!" On the other hand, Chanel said that one of the benefits of a signature scent is that you can always identify your own coat.

Rub or let dry?
Perfume folk wisdom says not to rub your wrists together when you apply perfume because you'll crush its molecules. always let your perfume dry without rubbing your wrists together.

When to reapply?
Perfume won't show its true character if it is layered — even if it's layered over itself. A scent is designed to unfurl on naked skin from its topnotes through the final whisper of its drydown. If you interrupt and complicate this progress by reapplying scent, you won't smell the full story of the perfume.
In the end, though the best advice about applying perfume is to "Be extravagant with perfume and with love."

Q. WHAT ARE TOP, MIDDLE AND BASE NOTES?

A. Top notes provide the first scent impression of a fragrance once it has been applied to the skin. They are usually lighter, more volatile aromas that evaporate readily. Their scent usually lingers for between 5 and 30 minutes.

Middle notes, sometimes referred to as "heart notes", make up the body of the blend. They may be evident from the start, but will usually take 10-30 minutes to fully develop on the skin. They are the notes that classify the fragrance family (floral, oriental, chypre, etc).

Base Notes are those with the greatest molecular weight. They last the longest, and are also important as fixatives, that is, they help slow down the evaporation rates of the lighter notes, giving the fragrance holding power. Common base notes include oakmoss, patchouli, woods, musk and vanilla.

A fragrance which does not have traditional top, middle and base notes is usually described as "linear".

Q. WHAT ARE FRAGRANCE FAMILIES?

A. At the simplest level, fragrance families are classification systems that assign individual fragrances into olfactory groups based on their predominant characteristics. So, four different fragrances with identical notes used in different proportions could be classified into four different fragrance families. You’ve probably heard of some of the basic families: citrus, oriental, chypre, wood, etc. The way in which fragrances get assigned to their respective category is simple: someone who understands fragrance families smells the perfume, and makes a decision.

And why should you care? Well, the most common use of the classifications is to help people find fragrances they might like without wasting time smelling things that aren’t to their taste, or, Each fragrance family has a unique personality and, instinctively, you will prefer fragrances from some and dislike ones from others. You know all those automated systems that ask what fragrance you like, then suggest some others you might like? Those are all based on fragrance family. It’s also the reason that many sales associates ask what your favorite fragrance is, although in practice, what they suggest after you answer is not always from the same fragrance family.

Many people, of course, like fragrances from more than one family, and some perfumistas like fragrances from all of the fragrance families. Still, knowing the fragrance family can be very helpful simply in that it might give you some clues as to a fragrance’s general character. Let’s say that you know that Brand X is coming out with a new fragrance, and the notes are mandarin, cardamom, jasmine, amber and musk. As we already know, that’s probably not a complete list of notes, but even if it was, it wouldn’t tell you much about what the scent might smell like. If you knew that it was a citrus, say, or an oriental or a floral, that might help you decide whether or not it was something you wanted to try.

The next wrinkle is that there is more than one classification system in use. The best known is from Michael Edwards, who has been classifying fragrances since 1983. Edwards uses four general categories on a “fragrance wheel”: fresh, floral, oriental and woody. Each of those categories has sub-categories; including the category aromatic fougere, which is in the center of the fragrance wheel, there are 14 basic categories, and then there are further sub-categories under each of those. Two popular categories, chypre and fruity floral, do not, strictly speaking, exist in this system. Chypres are usually classified under the “Mossy Woods” category, and fruity florals under the more general term “Fruity” or under the fruity subgroup of the “Floral” category.

Société Française des Parfumeurs uses 7 categories - citrus, floral, fougere, chypre, woody, amber and leather. Each of these has numerous sub-categories (floral, for instance, includes soliflore, floral musky, floral bouquet, floral aldehydic, floral green, floral fruity woody, floral woody, floral marine and floral fruity). Notably, oriental is neither a category nor a sub-category under this system.

You will see other systems in use as well, and many retailers use their own adaptations.

Q. HOW CAN YOU LEARN THE FRAGRANCE FAMILIES?

Simply put, there isn’t any really good way to learn the fragrance families other than to smell. If you’re one of those perfumistas who keeps notes as you test new fragrances, you might try writing down the fragrance family at the same time, and that way, eventually you’ll learn to recognize the general characteristics of each family. You can read more about perfume notes via our detailed explanation on - NOTES

Q. WHAT ARE TESTERS OR UNBOXED ITEMS?

A. Testers are what you see on the department store counters for customers to try out. Most of the fragrance companies make testers to promote their products. Depending on the manufacturer testers may come in a plain white box, brown box or no box at all. They may also come with or without a cap. They may also have the phrase "Tester" or "Demonstrator" printed on them. Since testers are made with the same content as the retail boxed items, they are great way to enjoy the fragrance at savings.

Q. How do I find a new perfume that I'll really enjoy?

It can be difficult. "Finding the right fragrance is almost as hard as finding the right man," complained Allure magazine. You may feel that there can be no logic in your choice of perfumes because your sense of smell is so emotional, but the fragrances you most enjoy will probably belong to just one or two of the fourteen different fragrance families. Like most good things, it takes a little effort to find a new perfume that is just right.

Q. Why can’t I smell the fragrance I’m wearing after a while?

Several of the senses tire after constant stimulation. The sense of smell classically cuts off within minutes. Because you can’t move away from your own perfume, you become used to it. You may think it has disappeared, but others can still smell it.

Q. What else might affect my sense of smell?

Sinus disease, respiratory infections and head injuries are all common causes of persistent loss of smell. Prolonged exposure to toxic substances such as air pollutants, industrial chemicals, tobacco smoke and certain drugs can diminish and even damage the olfactory cells.

Q. Why doesn’t fragrance last on me?

Unfortunately, your body’s chemistry causes perfumes to evaporate more quickly from your skin. Perfumers would say that your skin ‘throws off’ fragrance.

Instead of an eau de toilette lasting for some 3 to 4 hours, it disappears within an hour, sometimes shorter. The rate of evaporation triples or even quadruples on your skin. Why? The acidity of your skin is a possible culprit. Lick your wrist. Does it have a sharp, tangy taste? That’s a sure sign of acid. And the more acidic your skin, the more it will tend to throw off perfume.

Medicines, too, will change your body’s chemistry. Low fat diets, stress, spicy foods, fast foods all affect body temperature and encourage the skin to throw off perfume. Add dry skin and pregnancy to the list and you’ll see why so many women complain about the staying power of their fragrance.

The solution? Put an emollient layer between your skin and your perfume. ‘Layer’ your fragrance to extend its life. Use a body lotion or body crème that matches your fragrance to create an emollient foundation for the eau de toilette. It will slow down the rate of evaporation and double the life of your perfume.

A second solution? Use the matching bath oils of your favourite fragrances as oil perfumes. After your bath or shower, while your skin is dry but still warm from the water, stroke the fragrant bath oil across your pulse points. Finish with a light spray of fragrance.

Q. How does climate affect the fragrance we wear?

Summer heat increases the impact of odour. The hotter the weather, the more rapidly the “notes” of a fragrance leave the skin. The answer: a lighter fragrance re-applied more frequently. Winter tones down scent; in cold weather the fragrance molecules “lift” more slowly and the top, heart and base notes develop more gradually. That’s why you can wear a more potent fragrance in colder weather.

Q. Will eating spicy foods affect the way my perfume smells on me?

Again, the answer is yes. The scent of your fragrance doesn’t change, but the scent of your skin does. Most of us forget that our skin is an excretory organ. Spicy foods spice up the oils secreted through the pores of your skin. So, spicy skin, different fragrance!

Q. If I have dry skin, do I need to apply my fragrance more generously?

Yes. Dry skin doesn’t have as much capacity to retain the scent molecules for as long as oily skin, so you’ll need to apply fragrance more often throughout the day.

Q. Will smoking affect the way a fragrance wears on my skin?

Yes. Nicotine is a psychoactive substance that changes your body chemistry and affects the way you smell. If you smoke, not only will fragrances tend not to last as long on your skin but you’ll also find that your sense of smell is duller.