Climbing The Aromatic Ladder

To many of us, the word ‘perfume’ has a special magic. We have smelled a good perfume in the past and the sensual invocations it brought forth then still linger somewhere in our cortex.

The words ‘eau de toilette’ and eau de cologne’ are more subtle and mysterious. We recognize them as lesser gods, able to convey rich scent but not to the degree of their superior cousin. Why not?  What is it about real perfume that so satisfies..and how can we explain it?

When one brings a fragrance genie out of it’s bottle, it will utter two truths: the first truth is that all depends on the density of aromatic oil in the mixture at hand. Perfume has the highest density, eau de toilette next.. followed by the Cinderella of this family, pale-scented cologne.

The second truth is far more complex. Aromatic composites used in perfume mixtures carry multifaceted chemical connections, some with hundreds of components. These are blended to give stages to the olifactory experience. First there is the ‘Chief note’, the opening whiff. Depending on the mix this can last from a few minutes to several hours. Then ‘HEART’ begins to unfold, or the ‘stiff’ of the perfume, which lingers about as a mood of ‘compassion’ for an indefinite time. Finally ‘footnote’ is revealed, that faint bouquet left at the end of the day. The totality of these stages, and their intensity, define a mixture’s place on our aromatic ladder.

Finally, perfume buyer beware. The most luxurious scents in each category are to be found behind labels which proclaim ‘all natural ingredients’. Many new fragrance groups have been formed using synthetic mixtures, but ‘all natural’ still remains on our ladder’s top rung.

Taylor of Old Bond Street

‘Avocado on your face’

The TAYLOR Tradition was founded on September 1st, 1854 by Jeremiah Taylor, the great grandfather of today’s Chairman. He opened his Hairdressing and Hair Treatment Salon in Bond Street (in the heart of London’s fashionable West End) and gained a reputation in British Society for his botanical extract for hair and scalp treatment. His son, Ivan, using his training as a chemist, succeeded his father, developing many fine herbal treatments. The TAYLOR Tradition continues through the generations. They are determined to keep it a family business.

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Musgo Shaving Tips

1. HOT WATER
   This is the essential for a perfect shave are water & warmth - bristles become softer and easier to cut and facial muscles are relaxed, the best time to shave is after a bath or shower
2. PREP THE FACE
   For those with sensitive skin or who desire a particularly smooth shave - use a glycerin based product to prep the face - such as Skin Food, or Musgo Glycerine Lime Oil Soap. This will help the razor glide smoothly across the face.
3. LATHER
   When using cream, place a modest amount in the palm of one hand, dip the brush in hot water & build up a rich creamy later on your brush. Wet the face and with a circular motion apply the later to the beard making the hairs stand proud - if using a shave soap dip the brush in hot water and later on soap in bowl.
4. SHAVE
   Using a good blade that has been warmed under hot running water, shave the beard in the direction of growth - rinse the blade frequently. Never shave ‘against the grain’ as this causes razor burn. To find the unique direction of hair growth, use your fingertips on a wet beard.
   Rinse the face with warm water , then cool and pat dry.
5. MOISTURIZE A good wet shave exfoliates and cleanses the skin - but your skin also needs protection from the elements. Products containing alcohol should not be applied directly to newly shave skin as this may inflame or cause dryness - though some Men love that sting ! Use Musgo Aftershave Balsam which can be custom scented to match your shave cream scent or left unscented.
6. FRAGRANCE
   For best results colognes and other fragrances should be applied to ‘hot spots’ behind the earlobes and on the sides and back of neck.

Barclay Crocker
http://www.barclaycrocker.com