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Perfume Basics: Learn the Fundamentals of Modern Perfumery

Editorial flatlay of natural perfume ingredients and perfumery tools arranged on a beige linen surface for the Perfume Basics page on Scent Chronicles.

The basics to understand better the perfumes you love

Clear, friendly explanations about fragrance notes, materials, performance, and structure: written for beginners, enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how perfume really works.

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Perfume can feel complex; but it becomes simple once you understand the fundamentals.
These guides explain the building blocks of perfumery using clear, real-world examples and years of behind-the-counter experience.

Close-up of perfume sprayed on wrist with face cropped out, showing how perfumes smell different on you

Why Perfumes Smell Different On You (And How to Fix It!)

Discover why perfumes smell different on you, how skin chemistry impacts fragrance, and expert tips to choose and make scents last longer.

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Luxury editorial still life for what is oud in perfumery showing agarwood and a crystal vial of golden oud oil on black marble with incense smoke and warm golden bokeh.

What is Oud in Perfumery? The Complete Guide

Oud, often called “liquid gold,” is one of the most precious and mysterious ingredients in perfumery. Formed from rare agarwood, it brings deep smoky, woody, and resinous notes that have defined luxury scents for centuries. In this complete guide, discover oud’s history, cultural roots, and the best oud perfumes worth experiencing.

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Perfume layering guide with perfume bottles and layering combinations

Perfume Layering: The Complete Guide

Perfume layering is the art of combining two or more fragrances to create a unique, personal scent. Rooted in Middle Eastern traditions, it has become a global trend that lets you boost longevity, adapt perfumes to different occasions, and design your own signature fragrance. This complete guide explains what perfume layering is, how to do it, the best perfume layering combinations, including sweet perfume layering tips, and the top perfumes for layering.

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What is iris in perfumery shown with blooming purple iris flowers, dried orris roots, and a crystal perfume bottle on a soft ivory background

What Is Iris in Perfumery? Smell, History, and Best Perfumes

Iris, also known as orris root, is one of the most luxurious and expensive ingredients in perfumery. Powdery, buttery, and violet-like, it has been treasured since antiquity and remains the backbone of many iconic and modern fragrances. From Dior Homme and Prada Infusion d’Iris to Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist and Guerlain Iris Torréfié, discover what iris in perfumery really is, why it costs more than gold, and how it continues to shape luxury fragrance today.

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Soft golden diffused light floating through air symbolizing Iso E Super in perfumery

Iso E Super in Perfumery: A Guide to the Ghost ingredient

Iso E Super in perfumery is the quiet molecule behind modern scents. Discover its smell, role, safety, and the best perfumes that feature it, plus a practical FAQ.

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Luxury still-life of saffron threads spilling from a brass bowl on black marble with incense smoke, illustrating what is saffron in perfumery.

What Is Saffron in Perfumery? The Golden Spice of Fragrance

Saffron, often called red gold, is one of perfumery’s most luxurious ingredients. But what is saffron in perfumery exactly? Derived from the Crocus sativus flower, it adds a leathery, spicy, and honeyed warmth to fragrances. This guide explores saffron’s origins, why it’s so expensive, how it smells, the difference between natural and synthetic saffron, and the iconic perfumes that showcase its beauty.

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