Mayday, I can't smell (myself) anymore!
Coralie Frébourg
One morning, you wake up, get ready, grab your perfume and then, disaster: you can't smell it anymore. You can't smell yourself anymore. Cue the panic.
Like all our senses, smell is essential. It's an often-forgotten sense, even though we use it every day. Have you ever noticed that smell and taste are closely linked? That before tasting a good dish, we first breathe in its aroma? Covid also showed us that without a sense of smell, life is blander.
Anyway, don't worry: we'll explain everything.
Why can't you smell your own perfume anymore?
- Olfactory fatigue. When you wear the same perfume every day, your nose gets used to it. It's programmed to spot new smells and sort them quickly: pleasant or unpleasant, danger or safety. A smell it picks up every day is no longer of interest, so eventually it stops making the effort to detect it. Other people, however, smell it just fine!
- Your skin. Perfumes react differently depending on the skin (acidity, pH, hydration). Some skins absorb the lightest, most volatile notes, the "top notes", much faster.
- Partial anosmia. You can be anosmic to certain raw materials. It's not uncommon to be unable to smell certain musks or Hedione (a very fresh synthetic molecule with a jasmine scent).
- The perfume's concentration. It has a big impact on longevity and on what you perceive.
Eau Fraîche, Cologne, EDT, EDP, Extrait: how long does each last?
Eau Fraîche: 1 to 3%
A light scent with fresh, lively, invigorating notes. Very low longevity: about 1 hour.
Eau de Cologne: 3 to 6%
A fresh, sparkling, light and volatile composition, very lemony, that smells "clean" and that we love in summer. Low longevity: about 1 to 2 hours.
Eau de Toilette: 10 to 15%
Fresh and multifaceted, popular with the general public because it's more affordable than an Eau de Parfum or an Extrait. Fairly short longevity: about 3 hours.
Eau de Parfum: 15 to 20%
The best-selling version in stores. It projects and leaves a trail around you. The price is higher (often around €110 for 100ml) and longevity is good: about 5 to 6 hours.
Extrait de parfum: 20 to 40%
The highest concentration. A few drops are enough, and it's often applied directly to the skin. It lasts a long time: more than 6 hours. That's Versatile's choice: our roll-on Extraits de parfum are concentrated at 30 to 38%, alcohol-free, on a base of plant oils that makes the perfume last close to the skin.
Our tips to smell (and feel) good all day long
- Switch perfumes often. If you're not the faithful type, all the better: alternating keeps your nose from getting saturated. Our Discovery Boxes are perfect for building a scent wardrobe.
- Try layering. Layering two perfumes creates a unique trail and better longevity.
- Play with textures. Perfume applied to moisturized skin lasts longer. Apply an oil-based roll-on first, then spray a perfume on top: the oil holds it, the alcohol projects it.
- Take a break. Smell another perfume, or even coffee, to "reset" your nose, and train it with our exercises to improve your sense of smell.
Now you have all the tips to smell (and feel) good all day long!
Photo: Versatile Paris
