Perfumes, Colognes, Toilet Waters, and Other Scented Products.

  I am not much on wearing scents due to having grown up in a household where no one wore it.  Well except for my father who used Old Spice every time he shaved. 

When I did look for scents, I ended up buying very specific scents such as Plumeria, or Jasmine usually in the form of toilet water.  I couldn't afford perfume and now I find too many scents to be either too strong or they bother my nose.

In the mean time, I've decided to learn more about the topic and the legal requirements for the different types of scents.  The term perfume comes from per meaning through and fumare meaning smoke.

The type of fragrance depends on the percent of oil mixed in with alcohol and water.  The amount of percent of oil used in each type of fragrance tends to vary according to the company who makes it. 

First is Eau Fraiche or Fresh water is the weakest of the dilutions where between one and three percent oil is mixed with alcohol and water and lasts no more than an hour.  People like to use this if they cannot afford the more expensive perfumes.

Next is Cologne also known as Eau de Cologne is the oldest term for perfume. It originated in Cologne Germany in 1709, made by a homesick Italian, thus its name of water of Cologne. The fragrance took off and was purchased by many of the royal households.  It's price was equal to half a years wage of a civil servant.  It usually has between two and four percent fragrance oil composed mostly of essential  oils and the absolute.  The mix lasts for up to two hours.  Younger people tend to prefer this type because the scents are more fruity and light.

Then we have Toilette or Eau de Toilette often found as a light spray with 5 to 15 percent pure essence dissolved in alcohol and lasts for up to three hours. It is often referred to as Aromatic waters and is used during the warmer months of the year.  This dates back to 14th century Europe when Queen Elisabeth of Hungry created the first toilette water.  This variety is recommended for daily use because of its lightness and its ability to dissipate.

This is followed by Perfum or Eau de Perfum has between 10 and 20 percent pure essence with the lasting power of up to eight hours.  It has a lighter scent than perfume and is sold either in bottles or as a spray.

Finally is Perfume with the most concentrated amount of pure essence of between 15 and 40 percent and a single application can last up to 24 hours.  It has a slightly oily feel and must be sold in stopper bottles.  it is never sold in a spray due to its cost and too strong.

The perfume essence is the base for all scents and provides the actual fragrance.  It is composed of essential oils such as sandalwood or lime, absolutes such as jasmine or rose, animal extracts such as musk, and any synthetic fragrances.  It often does not smell good alone due to its concentration so it must be diluted with alcohol or water.

Let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear. 

Coffee Makers, Soup and Convience.

  Due to not having a regular television signal, I've grown used to watching DVD's and I  avoid commercials. So when I travel, I ended up watching the commercials and some are cute, while others turn out to be quite educational.

Over the past couple of days, I've seen products developed for those pod coffee makers.  The one you slide that little cup into, turn it on, and the hot water flows through it to make a single serving of either coffee or tea.

There were two commercials that caught my eye.  The first was done by a soup company.  The commercial was so subtle, it took me two or three times to realize the company had designed several varieties of soup that worked for this machine.

These soups are labeled "Fresh Brewed".  Apparently, the broth comes in the cup or pod which is slipped into machine for the water to run through into the coffee cup filled with the noodles, beans, etc.  After filling the reservoir, hit the switch and watch your soup being made. 

The second eliminates filling the reservoir.  One  of the appliance manufacturers has just designed a brand new refrigerator with a built in pod coffee maker.  Just think of it, the same water line that provides ice can also provide coffee, tea, or soup! 

I don't get to a real grocery store that often due to where I live.  My stores are more like 7-11 type stores so when I do visit a real grocery store, I am absolutely amazed at the number of simple dishes you only need to pop into the microwave and you've got a meal.  No need to know how to cook.

Unfortunately, when you don't cook, you miss out on so many healthy dishes you can make without all the salt, fat, and sugar found in manufactured foods.   Yes, I do eat more of that type of food when I'm visiting people or out traveling.  I also use things like canned foods because I live so far out that the price of fresh food can be extremely expensive if it arrives without being frozen.

The other spring I paid almost $14.00 for a cantaloupe and a $1.00 per banana.  I order in a box of fresh fruits and vegetables every two weeks so I can make healthy dishes for myself every day.  
I often add vegetables to my beans and rice, or create a sauce to throw over my pasta.  When I cook, I can choose to go anywhere and eat anything I can find a recipe for.

In case you are wondering, I own an electric water heater for my tea so I get the right temperature water, otherwise I don't own any fancy tea or coffee makers.