Frequently Asked Questions

Value-Added Tax

Effective 1 January 2018, VAT is charged at 5% on orders sold and shipped by Perfumeuae.com within the UAE. The advertised prices for products displayed at Perfumeuae.com are inclusive of any VAT.  However, your final price will be reflected at checkout, once the order information is completed.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes, we ship select products to over 220 countries. Please use our shipping calculator on checkout page to see if we ship to your country. Your order may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once a package reaches your country. We have no control over these charges and cannot predict what the costs may be. Customs policies vary from country to country; you should contact your local customs office for further information.

What is the difference between Pure Perfume, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and Eau de Cologne?

The differences are simply a matter of the amount or concentration of oils in the fragrance. The highest concentration is in pure perfume (or parfum). Next would be Eau de Parfum, then Eau de Toilette, and finally Eau de Cologne. Some manufacturers make a solid perfume, solid perfume is as strong as a pure perfume however it is in a gel-like consistency. Eau De Toilette and Eau De Cologne are generally interchangeable, especially in Men’s fragrances. After Shave has the least amount of oils. The higher the concentration the longer your fragrance will last, and the less you need to apply.

What is the difference between a splash and a spray?

There is absolutely no difference in the fragrance. The difference is in the method of application only. However, a spray bottle, being sealed all the time, may actually have a longer shelf life. Making the decision between spray and splash is entirely a matter of personal preference.

What is a tester?

Testers are even more discounted than the fancy boxed versions and are great if you don’t have a need for the fancy box. Testers are 100% authentic, fresh and completely full just like the original fragrance, however they are meant for the counter in a department store. Testers often come in a plain white box but sometimes they do not have a cap or a box. The savings on the packaging means you save even more!

Why are some perfume vials half filled?

Due to FDA regulations with products containing alcohol, most vials come partially filled by the manufacturer. PLEASE NOTE however that the vials still contain the advertised net weight. The shorter vials usually come ” half filled” but they are thicker in diameter and contain the correct amount. All samples are brand new, never used or tested.

Why do some men wear Cologne, and others prefer to wear After Shave?

After Shave Lotion will usually sting as well as help close the pores after shaving. After Shave Balm is actually soothing to the skin. After Shave Gel also soothes the skin, but cools the skin as well and relieves razor burn.

What do fragrance notes refer to?

Fragrances are comprised of many different scents, these scents are called “notes.” Top notes are very light and last just a few minutes (5-10 minutes). Middle notes become apparent in about 15 minutes after application. These can last up to an hour or more. Bottom notes are the heavier ingredients. These last the longest, usually for several hours.

How can I keep my fragrance from going bad?

Keep all fragrances in a cool, dry area, and away from windows as sunlight can unbalance the various ingredients. An opened bottle should be kept in its box to insure a longer shelf life.

My fragrance has been discontinued, how do you still have it in stock?

We stock thousands of fragrances, many of these have been discontinued. Our buyers travel the globe purchasing entire inventories of hard to find or discontinued fragrances to store in our temperature and humidity controled warehouse.

 HOW TO APPLY PERFUME?

A. It shouldn’t take rocket science to figure out how to put on perfume. You just spritz it on your wrists, rub them on each other and behind your ears, and you’re good to go, right? Maybe. But since you’ve spent almost a hundred dollars for that fabulous bottle of perfume, you may as well do a little research on how to wear it well. Cloud of scent or targeted sprays? Some people spray a mist of perfume in the air and then walk through it. They say that the scent then disperses evenly over their bodies. However, if you walk through the cloud of scent clothed, not much perfume lands on skin where it can warm and develop. targeting sprays of perfume – Spray once on skin. The scent then warms and rises so that it leaves a quiet trail. If the fragrance is subtle, spray on neck, so that the scent is closer to nose. Do scent your wrists sometimes so that you can get to know a perfume better by sniffing your wrist. Another place to dab scent if testing it is on the fleshy part of the back of your hand, between the thumb and index finger. Spray clothing or not?“Of course not!” On the other hand, Chanel said that one of the benefits of a signature scent is that you can always identify your own coat. Rub or let dry? Perfume folk wisdom says not to rub your wrists together when you apply perfume because you’ll crush its molecules. always let your perfume dry without rubbing your wrists together. When to reapply? Perfume won’t show its true character if it is layered — even if it’s layered over itself. A scent is designed to unfurl on naked skin from its topnotes through the final whisper of its drydown. If you interrupt and complicate this progress by reapplying scent, you won’t smell the full story of the perfume. In the end, though the best advice about applying perfume is to “Be extravagant with perfume and with love.”

 WHAT ARE FRAGRANCE FAMILIES?

At the simplest level, fragrance families are classification systems that assign individual fragrances into olfactory groups based on their predominant characteristics. So, four different fragrances with identical notes used in different proportions could be classified into four different fragrance families. You’ve probably heard of some of the basic families: citrus, oriental, chypre, wood, etc. The way in which fragrances get assigned to their respective category is simple: someone who understands fragrance families smells the perfume, and makes a decision. And why should you care? Well, the most common use of the classifications is to help people find fragrances they might like without wasting time smelling things that aren’t to their taste, or, Each fragrance family has a unique personality and, instinctively, you will prefer fragrances from some and dislike ones from others. You know all those automated systems that ask what fragrance you like, then suggest some others you might like? Those are all based on fragrance family. It’s also the reason that many sales associates ask what your favorite fragrance is, although in practice, what they suggest after you answer is not always from the same fragrance family. Many people, of course, like fragrances from more than one family, and some perfumistas like fragrances from all of the fragrance families. Still, knowing the fragrance family can be very helpful simply in that it might give you some clues as to a fragrance’s general character. Let’s say that you know that Brand X is coming out with a new fragrance, and the notes are mandarin, cardamom, jasmine, amber and musk. As we already know, that’s probably not a complete list of notes, but even if it was, it wouldn’t tell you much about what the scent might smell like. If you knew that it was a citrus, say, or an oriental or a floral, that might help you decide whether or not it was something you wanted to try. The next wrinkle is that there is more than one classification system in use. The best known is from Michael Edwards, who has been classifying fragrances since 1983. Edwards uses four general categories on a “fragrance wheel”: fresh, floral, oriental and woody. Each of those categories has sub-categories; including the category aromatic fougere, which is in the center of the fragrance wheel, there are 14 basic categories, and then there are further sub-categories under each of those. Two popular categories, chypre and fruity floral, do not, strictly speaking, exist in this system. Chypres are usually classified under the “Mossy Woods” category, and fruity florals under the more general term “Fruity” or under the fruity subgroup of the “Floral” category. Société Française des Parfumeurs uses 7 categories – citrus, floral, fougere, chypre, woody, amber and leather. Each of these has numerous sub-categories (floral, for instance, includes soliflore, floral musky, floral bouquet, floral aldehydic, floral green, floral fruity woody, floral woody, floral marine and floral fruity). Notably, oriental is neither a category nor a sub-category under this system. You will see other systems in use as well, and many retailers use their own adaptations.

Why doesn’t fragrance last on me?

Unfortunately, your body’s chemistry causes perfumes to evaporate more quickly from your skin. Perfumers would say that your skin ‘throws off’ fragrance. Instead of an eau de toilette lasting for some 3 to 4 hours, it disappears within an hour, sometimes shorter. The rate of evaporation triples or even quadruples on your skin. Why? The acidity of your skin is a possible culprit. Lick your wrist. Does it have a sharp, tangy taste? That’s a sure sign of acid. And the more acidic your skin, the more it will tend to throw off perfume. Medicines, too, will change your body’s chemistry. Low fat diets, stress, spicy foods, fast foods all affect body temperature and encourage the skin to throw off perfume. Add dry skin and pregnancy to the list and you’ll see why so many women complain about the staying power of their fragrance. The solution? Put an emollient layer between your skin and your perfume. ‘Layer’ your fragrance to extend its life. Use a body lotion or body crème that matches your fragrance to create an emollient foundation for the eau de toilette. It will slow down the rate of evaporation and double the life of your perfume. A second solution? Use the matching bath oils of your favourite fragrances as oil perfumes. After your bath or shower, while your skin is dry but still warm from the water, stroke the fragrant bath oil across your pulse points. Finish with a light spray of fragrance.

How does climate affect the fragrance we wear?

Summer heat increases the impact of odour. The hotter the weather, the more rapidly the “notes” of a fragrance leave the skin. The answer: a lighter fragrance re-applied more frequently. Winter tones down scent; in cold weather the fragrance molecules “lift” more slowly and the top, heart and base notes develop more gradually. That’s why you can wear a more potent fragrance in colder weather.

 Will eating spicy foods affect the way my perfume smells on me?

Again, the answer is yes. The scent of your fragrance doesn’t change, but the scent of your skin does. Most of us forget that our skin is an excretory organ. Spicy foods spice up the oils secreted through the pores of your skin. So, spicy skin, different fragrance!

 If I have dry skin, do I need to apply my fragrance more generously?

Yes. Dry skin doesn’t have as much capacity to retain the scent molecules for as long as oily skin, so you’ll need to apply fragrance more often throughout the day.

Will smoking affect the way a fragrance wears on my skin?

Yes. Nicotine is a psychoactive substance that changes your body chemistry and affects the way you smell. If you smoke, not only will fragrances tend not to last as long on your skin but you’ll also find that your sense of smell is duller.

Why are perfume vials not filled till top and there is empty space in bottles?

Vials have to be filled just enough and not too much, or else they will leak. Thus companies will always leave some head space in the bottle.