While perfumery has lasted for millenia, the innovations that have lead to modern perfumes and colognes are relatively recent. For the thousands of years prior to the twentieth century fragrances were made with purely natural products: crushed leaves, herbs, flowers, spices and wood; alcohol and water; the distilled oils from a variety of ingredients; etc. Although potent, these fragrances were nothing more than higher concentrations of what one could find in nature on any given day. These natural ingredients were easily handled by our bodies due to mankind’s long evolutionary journey allowing for a basic tolerance of said substances. This basic tolerance, however, is no longer useful for the fragrances we wear today, however. And, as a result, concerns are growing as to whether these seemingly sensual products are simply a coctail of toxic chemicals.

The twentieth century witnessed the birth of technology which allowed for hundreds of thousands of new chemicals and substances to be introduced to the world. While many products that have resulted are necessary to modern living, and extremely beneficial, they are also much more toxic than anything we have encountered in the past. Put simply, nature has not been around these products long enough to develop tolerances for them (excluding bacteria, which will always be the poster-child of evolutionary achievement). This, mixed with lack of foresight and regulation, has created the many dangers that we are now exposed to on a daily basis: carcinogens, allergens, toxins, etc.

The perfume industry was simply one of the hundreds of other industries to quickly—although recklessly may be the word we use in the future—adopt synthetics. The benefits of this move seemed enormous. Large quantities of rare fragrances could be replicated in the lab for a fraction of the cost, allowing for more products to be made and sold at prices targeted for the masses of middle-class citizens across the world. Further, scents that were previously unreplicable could now be reproduced through science, which allowed for the addition of the fresh perfumes and colognes to the older families of fragrances. Within fifty years, the entire industry had changed, transforming products that once contained a handful of natural ingredients into products that contain hundreds of synthetically-produced chemicals.

These chemicals were created so quickly, and adopted so rapidly, that they were rarely tested for safety before they were introduced en masse. This, along with our basic infatuation with anything that smells nice, allowed for these products to go on, unchecked, for decades. It wasn’t until the late eighties and early nineties that people really began to question the safety of these unnatural products. The oft-cited report by the US National Academy of Sciences made in 1986 was one of the first times that the ingredients of fragrances were listed as potentially harmful (indeed, they were described as neurotoxic ingredients in need of further investigation).

Before we go further into the dangers that of these substances pose, I might as well remind you that the more extreme diseases associated with these products are only likely to occur when exposed to them in large amounts. Unless you’re drinking Eternity like you would water, on a daily basis, for years, you probably don’t have to worry about developing cancer or Parkinson’s disease from your favorite fragrance alone. However, many of the materials that actually have been tested do show links to cancer, birth-defects, and central nervous system disorders. Evidence describing any possible risks of daily use is required, however, before we can make an accurate assessment. Right now the debate seems to be following the same trend as the aspartame (the artificial sweetener) controversy.

What we do know, however, is that these products are hazardoes to people with allergies or asthma, and their usage has become a problem for some. They may not be able to catch their breath when around certain fragrances, or may simply feel dizzy or light-headed. I’m sure all of us have experienced some sort of unpleasant feeling when around someone who wears too much perfume or cologne. Those who are more sensitive to such fragrances may find themselves in grave danger when exposed to such amounts. Contact dermatitis is another issue that is commly associated with certain fragrances, as the chances of someone being allergic to at least one of the ingredients is a certain perfume or cologne are comparatively high.

While I myself am not particularly concerned over the dangers of wearing a modern fragrance, I would probably prefer to pay a little more for all-natural or fully-tested products. And, as more people become aware of the risks, the industry itself may be forced to reevaluate itself and decide whether it can continue the path it has chosen, or whether it needs to go back to its roots. I also imagine that governments may soon take a keener interest in regulating these products in the interest of consumer safety and public health. As towns are beginning to ban fragrances in certain public locations, we will be forced to decide whether or not we want to live in a world without the wonderful perfumes and colognes we are used to. Regardless of what happens, I’m pretty confident that the art of perfumery will always have a place in civilization.

Regardless of brand or type, any perfume and cologne can be described in relatively basic terminology. Although this is helpful for quickly finding what you are looking for in a store, it is even more helpful when making a purchase over the internet. Although you will find a seemingly innumerable amount of different varieties and makes on the world wide web, it is financially impossible to try all of them individually. Therefor, knowing what to look for and what certain descriptions mean will save you both money and time, and leave you smelling your best, even if you buy perfume and cologne online.

Most perfumes and colognes will be composed of various scents. To describe these scents, the industry has created a simple musical metaphor. In a well-crafted song, one note leads to the other in a harmonious manner. Different emotions can be triggered by the progression, and each note conveys a certain mood. Further, the song would not sound right if a note was left out, and would cause the whole piece to fall apart. For these reasons you will find that the stages of perfume and cologne are designated as top notes, middle notes, and base notes.

We are all aware that liquids evaporates, but perfumers take this a step further by knowing how quickly every substance in a perfume takes to evaporate. This knowledge allows them to create beautiful “melodies” by perfecting each note so that it is both perfect on its own, but also transitional. What you smell when you first apply a scent is the top note. This quickly dissipates into the middle (a.k.a. heart) note, which in turns brings us to the base note. The whole process takes about thirty minutes, although the base note will last for a much longer time than that, depending on its volatility.

Just like we use terminology to denote a G note from a C note in music, the same is also done in perfumery. There are about thirteen basic categories that we use to describe the smells of each note: floral, soft floral, floral oriental, soft oriental, oriental, woody oriental, woods, mossy woods, dry woods, citrus, fruity, green, water, and Fougère. Although these categories are fairly self-explanatory there are some details that should be cleared up.

First, leathery scents will most likely be found in the dry woods category. Next, the fruity category excludes all citrus fruits, since they have their own category (and have for a very long time). Fougère usually contains scents from an eclectic group of categories such as couramin, lavender and oakmoss. You may also come across the term Gourmand, which means that the scent smells very similar to certain gourmet foods and drinks.

While these terms are helpful, they are rarely completely accurate. Most perfumes and colognes will be composed of a variety of different fragrances from different classifications. What you should do, however, is determine which scents you prefer or dislike, and then search from there. I always like to look at the overall ambiance being created, as the whole is greater than its parts. When buying perfume and cologne online, it is important to be able to have a good sense of your own personal tastes and a similarly good imagination.

If you have extra money, many sights offer the option of purchasing samples (usually for less than ten dollars). If you can’t make a definitive decision, this is the best route to take. While you will spend some extra money, you may also save money by avoiding costly mistakes. You might even find something you didn’t expect.

If you’re like most people you tend to be rather critical of the guys and girls that wear too much perfume and cologne, and rightly so. These fragrances are highly potent in small quantities, so people who apply too much are actually assaulting our noses with too many powerful molecules. When it comes to perfume and cologne, less is always more. It would appear that you can in fact have too much good stuff. In the same way that consuming too many sweets, or fruits, or too much of anything, really, leaves you feeling nauseous for hours afterward, too many smells will not only make you sick but also affect your mind.

Scent’s close relationship with memory means that just the smallest hint of a fragrance will trigger certain thoughts and images from years past. Thus, the more smells a person perceives, the more memories may be triggered. If there are too many different smells, or one extremely overpowering one, the mind may be completely overwhelmed. Consider how you feel when you enter a room thick with smells; usually you will feel a sort of mental fog and not be able to fully process your surroundings. On the opposite end, consider how you feel when there’s is an unpleasant smell nearby. It’s hard to think about anything besides getting away from that offending smell.

Thus radiating just a hint of a fragrance is much more enticing than blatantly advertising it, and it leaves people wanting more rather than less. Also, you won’t risk making people become obsessed with avoiding you should they not like your chosen scent. Thus, you will be enticing to those who like your scent and neutral to those who don’t like it. That is the balance that you want to strive for: polite yet interesting. Not only does this make people like you more, but it also makes your fragrance more personal.

So why do people wear too much perfume and cologne? There are numerous reasons. The first being that they were simply not taught properly, or taught at all. How much of the fragrance you apply depends on two things: what you will be doing and how strong the substance is. If you’re going to be in relatively close quarters with others, it is best to wear as little as possible. On the other hand, if you are going to be in a relatively open space, you can feel free to wear a little bit more. Most people recommend no more than two or three applications, but some perfumes and colognes are more potent than others, so the range should theoretically be one to four.

Another possibility for why people wear too much of a certain scent is that they may be sick, or genetically dispositioned in some way. Studies have linked people that wear too much perfume and cologne to zinc deficiencies and depression, among other things. Luckily, these maladies can be easily fixed with modern medicine, and may also improve a person’s nose in the process. Also, it is important to remember that all of our senses are varied in strength; for instance, numerous people have weak vision or hearing. This also holds true for our sense of smell. Some of us just have better sniffers.

And last but not least, some of us just have bad taste. The best way to help someone who wears too much perfume and cologne, then, is to tell them the truth. Don’t let them live in ignorance while you secretly grow resentment for them. Be upfront and help each other out. They may be extremely grateful for your advice. Or, if you are afraid that you wear too much, ask someone who will give an honest opinion, and whose opinion you actually respect. Scent can be a wonderful thing—and it is!—as long as it is used properly.