Journal

Versace Crystal Noir opens with spicy ginger and cardamom, moves through gardenia and coconut, then settles into sandalwood, musk and amber—a surprisingly dense EDT, especially suited to evenings a...

The leather in Tom Ford Ombré Leather is warm and velvety, not harsh: how it evolves on the skin from cardamom to amber, why it’s unisex, and when it’s best worn.

How Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely smells from opening to base, what changes compared with the original Stronger With You, and which season and time of day suit it best.

Powdery isn’t an ingredient, but an olfactory sensation created by iris, heliotrope, vanilla, white musk and amber. We explain where it comes from and show six catalog examples, from the most auste...

The “floral” label encompasses at least seven different directions, from the classic bouquet to powdery florals. This article explains each one, with a documented example from our catalog.

Skin chemistry, hydration and the way notes develop throughout the day explain why the same perfume doesn’t smell identical on two people, while a decant helps you find out exactly how it wears on ...

We explain what “parfum” or “extrait de parfum” means compared with eau de parfum, using the real example of Amouage Guidance (25%) and Guidance 46 (46%), and show how to compare both concentration...

A guide to Carolina Herrera Good Girl’s notes, sweetness and longevity, with practical advice on season, occasion and trying it in a small decant before buying a full bottle.

A practical glossary that distinguishes perfume longevity, projection and sillage, explains what depends on the formula and what depends on skin and weather, and offers a reasonable guideline for t...