Halloween Special: Cleopatra's Hieroglyphics

Matte Top Coat: Superhero Blue

Rancé: Eugénie

The origin of perfume can be traced all the way back to the 1600s, when it was first created for the French Royals. Marie Antoinette could not stand the smell of other people, so she would spray scents on her gloves and smell them when she found herself in a large crowd of unpleasant smelling people.

The Rancé family became famous for being one of the first in France to produce perfumed gloves for the French Aristocracy in Grasse. In 1975, François Rancé turned his focus entirely to perfumery and he quickly became Napoleon’s favourite perfumer. During his time, he created personalized scents for the Empereur such as “Le Vainqueur”, “Triomphe” and “L’Eau de Austerliz” which are still in production today. In honour of Josephine Bonaparte he created “l’Impératrice”.

My favourite women’s fragrance in the Imperial Collection is Eugénie – a scent named after the Empress Eugénie who won over France and the whole of Europe with her charm, her smile, and her elegance.

Head notes: Blackcurrent, Lily of the Valley, Mandarin, White Flowers, Ylang-ylang, Bergamot, Melon and Passion Fruit

Heart Notes: Neroli, Rose Absolute, Peach, Violet Leaves, Grasse Jasmine, Magnolia

Base Notes: Florentine Iris, Sandalwood, Oak Musk, Ambergris, Vanilla, Vetiver

This fragrance is very feminine and subtle although it changes throughout the day, which I find very complex yet amazing. My favourite part is after the opening as the middle and base notes take over. Initially I didn’t like the scent on me, but as the day continued Eugénie turned into a very tasteful floral scent. This powerful scent lasted all day and I could still smell it as I got ready for bed at the end of the night. Patience is key when trying this perfume!

The spirit of all Rancé perfumes reflect tradition, innovation and naturalness.

Classic French Manicure

Resonance

My friend suggested a new café called Résonance in the Mile End area and after a quick google search I was sold! This laid back café opened last September. Its specialties include a wide selection of vegan breakfast and lunch foods such as gluten-free muffins, soups, sandwiches and chili. The menu also includes a variety of tea flavours and coffee all clearly displayed on a chalkboard menu.

I wanted to order something seasonal on this gorgeous fall day so I asked the barista for a suggestion. He made me an amazing Roobois Latté. It was perfectly sweetened with just the right amount of foam on top and the best part was that it was caffeine free!

Résonance was filled with students doing homework and couples catching up on some good books – it was tricky finding a seat on a Sunday afternoon! I loved the location and the laid back atmosphere. Every night Résonance hosts a different jazz musician and opens up their menu to include drinks. If breakfast and lunch isn’t your thing then I’d suggest coming in the evening for a drink and some live music. I know I will definitely be back to experience Résonance at night!

Happy Thanksgiving: Maroon and Gold

What's the Difference Between Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette?

Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette are two terms that perfume makers use to denote the concentration and strength of a fragrance. The scent from perfumes comes from fragrance oils, which are then dissolved in alcohol or water (or sometimes both). The concentrates are determined by how much fragrance oil to alcohol/water content is contained within the bottle.

Eau de Parfums (EDP) contain between 12% and 18% perfume oil. On application, the top notes are released, but amazingly, over 20-30% of the fragrance with remain noticeable up to 18/24 hours later. If you want a fragrance that lasts, this is the type of formulation to buy. It is best to apply Eau de Parfum where the blood beats the closest to the skin – pulse points, wrists, collarbone, décoletté, throat, inner thighs, and around the ankles.

Tip: Avoid applying an Eau de Parfum behind the ears, as there are glands there which can affect the settling of the scent.

Eau de Toilettes (EDT) contain the same ingredients as Eau de Parfums, but the fragrance level is lower. The perfume oil content is between 8% to 10%. Eau de Toilettes have a lighter scent that does not last as long, they were originally designed as refreshing body splashes to help people wake up, as part of their morning toilette.

Colognes are traditionally a more masculine product, although this is changing and they are now widely used by women. Colognes are similar in composition to Eau de Parfums and Eau de Toilettes have a fragrance level between 8% and 10%.

While there are generally agreed upon concentrations, some perfume houses will sometimes adjust the amounts of fragrance oils for certain notes in their EDT and EDP versions, causing the two concentrations to smell different instead of just stronger or weaker.

In addition to this there is sometimes confusion surrounding Colognes vs. Perfumes. Most think that cologne is a word used to refer to men’s fragrances but sometimes Cologne can be used in reference to Eau de Cologne concentration and these fragrance can be unisex. For example, Atelier Cologne’s Cologne Absolue Collection has very highly concentrated formulas with distinctive and long-lasting sillage. Sillage is a French word, meaning wake (of a ship) or trail and refers to the scent you leave behind as you move around. Fragrances which are said to have “good sillage” means that they linger around the person wearing them. The amount sillage depends on the quality and type of fragrance as well as your own body chemistry and where you place the scent.

When purchasing your next fragrance, keep in mind that generally speaking, the more expensive the fragrance, the greater percentage of fragrance oils and the longer lasting the scent. Whether you choose to wear an EDT, EDP or Cologne is merely a matter of taste and desired concentration.

Originally Published On: The Etiket Insider

Think Pink

Special Post: One Year

I can't believe that it's already been one year since I started this blog! Created originally as a school assignment, Eau de Café has turned into something much more. It has allowed me to keep a chronicle of my travels and has documented my love for exploring and my desire to try new things. I have learned a lot about myself throughout this journey and hope to continue on for many more years! Thank you to all my readers for your support and cheers to making it to the one year mark!