Articles Archives | Pairfum London - Niche Perfume that Complements You, Naturally

Home / Articles

Pairfum London Coronavirus Prevention Hands Wash Bubbles Cleaning Rinse

Coronavirus Prevention: Top Tips to be more Effective!

09/03/202005/03/2020 by Josephine McCarthy

Is Alcohol effective against certain virus, i.e. is it suitable for Coronavirus Prevention ?

While governments across the world and society in general are struggling to understand Covid-19 / Coronavirus, and how to limit its spread, sales of hand disinfectant gels have increased in the UK.

Some supermarkets have already sold out or are running very low in stock.

Is hand-gel really effective against Covid-19 ( Coronavirus ) and if it is, what makes it so effective?

According to a study by the USDA, over 90% of us don’t wash our hands correctly leading to cross-contamination.

A person’s hands are one of the main causes of transferring viruses from surfaces to their respiratory system.

Insuring that you wash them correctly and often, is one way of preventing you from contracting or spreading a virus, i.e. Coronavirus Prevention.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. If that is not possible, then using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is an excellent alternative.

However it is very important to understand that these hand sanatising products must contain at least 60% alcohol.

Both the N.H.S. and Public Health England agree that products containing more than 60% alcohol are most effective at killing microbes.

The fact is that alcohol doesn’t kill some viruses and Professor Sally Bloomfield from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has said that viruses are much more resistant to disinfectants than bacteria.

Viruses, such as the norovirus or rhinovirus are not enveloped, which means they are not surrounded by a shell.

However, the good news about Covid-19 / coronavirus (and there is precious little good news about it so far) is that Professor Bloomfield has said that Covid-19 is an envelope virus, meaning it has a coating around it, which the alcohol can attack.

With the stock of hand disinfectant gels running low or sold out, and with reports of unscrupulous people selling products on certain websites for many times their original price, it is tempting to think that you could make your own.

This however is not the wisest, safest or best solution, as it is difficult to insure that you have the correct formulation. If made incorrectly they could cause more harm than good.

Products made by reputable manufacturers also contain emollients that soften and protect the skin without the risk of injury to the hands.

On some wellness sites it has been suggested to use alternatives to make your own gels containing certain ingredients such as aleo vera or witch hazel, however as we have mentioned earlier – it is the alcohol and the percentage of alcohol in the products that attacks the virus.

If you are seeking an alternative to alcohol another strong antibacterial agent that is used in certain soaps, cosmetics and toothpaste is called Triclosan. However we would not recommend this as research has now shown that triclosan can damage the body’s endocrine system, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned its use in hygiene products at the end of 2017, no such ban exists in the U.K. as yet however…..

As it is still unknown how Covid-19 is spread and according to the latest update from the N.H.S. the most lightly transference is from person to person through coughing or sneezing and is unlikely to pass through items, such as packaging or food.

Having said that it is better to avoid touching things that you do not need to touch, however in our everyday lives we need to open doors, sit on seats and handle other objects as part of our daily routines.

As this is unavoidable, then the safest thing to do is avoid touching your face, mouth, nose, eyes or any wounds you may have before thoroughly washing your hands in clean running water for more than 20 seconds using soap in both solid or liquid form and then drying them with a clean disposable towel – a 2012 study by the Mayo Clinic showed that from a hygienic point of view: “Paper towels are better than air dryers”.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to wash your hands, then using a sanatising hand gel with over 60% alcohol content is an excellent alternative. Once you have an opportunity you should then wash your hands thoroughly with clean running water and soap.

One report has shown that adults get between four to six colds every year and children pick up six to eight. The author of the report pointed out that hand washing and good general hygiene could stop the spread of these viruses….

When over 90% of us do not wash our hands correctly, and by doing so we can prevent the spread of viruses. Then it really is a case of ‘Wash, Rinse & Repeat’

Is Coronavirus Prevention possible? what part can we play in the prevention or spread of Covid-19?

The Department of Health and the N.H.S. are advising that we should all wash our hands thoroughly and correctly, as one of the main preventative measures.

So then suggesting that we should all take note and wash our hands as thoroughly as medical professionals preparing for surgery – the following instructions on how to wash your hands correctly ‘IS NOT’ really a case of stating the obvious!

Thoroughly wet your hands with clean running tap water, both hot and cold is fine.
Apply soap and lather your hands well paying special attention to the area in between your fingers and the backs of your hands, and do not forget to clean under your nails.
Spend at least 20 seconds actively scrubbing your hands after lathering them completely. (If you are unsure how long 20 seconds is then one suggestion by the America CDC is to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to yourself in your head – or out loud if you feel like it)
Then thoroughly rinse off all the soap from your hands under clean running water.
Finally use a clean and if possible a disposable towel to dry your hands and if this is not available then simply air dry them (if you are wondering what we mean by air drying them – then remember what Cameo said “Wave your hands in the air like you don’t care”

As the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has said “It’s not for the NHS to manage COVID19 primarily, it’s for all of us to help manage it.”

As professor John Edmunds told Channel4News that if we all follow @PHE_uk advice properly in the coming weeks & months the epidemic should slow down.

At this time of uncertainty, we recommend taking these few simple precautions to help Coronavirus Prevention. By doing so we can all help keep ourselves and others safe.

What Is The Scent Of Daffodils Great Windsor Park Uk

Do Daffodils have a Fragrance ?

11/03/202015/02/2020 by Huib Maat

About Daffodils

Daffodils are considered one of the heralds of spring.

Their common name is Daffodil and their Latin, botanical name Narcissus. They are a bulb that is part of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae.

Planted between September and October the previous year, the bulb develops roots before the beautiful yellow and white flowers burst out the following spring from February to early May. They can be found in borders, containers but also parks and by the roadside.

Their typical height and spread are 5cm (2in) to 50cm (20in). They prefer sun or light shade and are an easy to grow bulb. The plant is very resistant and most sorts survive cold winters to flower for many years.

The flowers are either yellow or white, trumpet or star-shaped and grow on a long stalk with green leaves. In all, there are about 26 wild varieties but many hundreds of cultivated versions.

Mainly based on their flower form, Daffodils are categorised into 13 groups, mainly based on the form of their flower:

Trumpet: flowers with cups (the corona) that are longer than their petals
Large-cupped: with large cups but the corona is not longer than their perianth segments
Small-cupped: the flowers have small cups, much shorter than their petals
Double: double blooms, with a ruffled appearance, but no clear distinction between petals and cup
Triandrus: small-flowered daffodils with pendent blooms, up to five, which naturalise well in grass
Cyclamineus: small flowers with petals sweeping back from the cup (i.e. reflexed perianth). These are an early flowering species and naturalise well in grass
Jonquilla and Apodanthus: These are the fragrant varieties and they display up to five small flowers per stem
Tazetta: another fragrant variety with up to 20 small flowers per stem, with sadly some only half hardy
Poeticus: another variety that can be naturalised in grass. They have small cups with a contrasting colours to their large white petals
Bulbocodium: in this variety the cups are much larger than the petals and they are short, with delicate, rush-like leaves. They naturalise well in grass.
Split-corona (Collar or Papillon): they look like orchids, with a cup split into segments. In the papillon type (typically with a whorl split into six segments) the face appears flatter and more open.
Species daffodils (including wild narcissi): these small species grow well in rock gardens and pots
Miscellaneous: daffodils that do not fit any of the above groups

History of Daffodils

Daffodils originate from Southern Europe and North Africa, but some varieties can be found in Asia and China. Some claim that narcissus originated from Persia and was brought to China in the 8th century by travelling traders along the Silk Route.

The flower is linked to the Greek myth of Narcissus, who became so obsessed with his own reflection, that he knelt down to gaze into a pool of water. Sadly, he toppled into the water and drowned. The Narcissus plant sprang from where he died.

The name probably has its origin in the Greek word of ‘narke’, which became ‘narce’ under the Romans, meaning ‘numb’ and is a reference to its narcotic effect.

For more than a thousand years, Narcissus oil has been used for many different purposes, in both ancient Rome and the middle East:

Narcissinum was the name the Romans gave the fragrance they created using narcissus unguent.
In Arabia it was used in perfumery but also to cure baldness
In India, the oil of the narcissus (as well as fragrant oils of sandal, jasmine, and rose), is utilised during ritual cleaning before attending prayers.
The French used it as a scent in early cosmetics (powders, soaps and lipsticks) but they also treated epilepsy and hysteria with it
In China narcissus is associated with good fortune and gain. Even today, narcissus remains as a symbol of awakening and hope.

Narcissus Oil

The oil was historically extracted through a technique called ‘enfleurage’, whereby the individual petals are placed on plate of lard. The fat draws the oil from the petal and after a few days the petals are replaced by fresh ones. This is repeated until the lard is saturated with oil. At this stage it is called the ‘pomade’. The pomade is then filtered and distilled to produce the oil.

Nowadays, the oil is typically extracted using volatile solvents. About 500 kg of flowers are required to produce 1 kilogram of concrete or 300 g of absolute. ‘Concrete’ and ‘Absolute’ refer to different stages of refinement of the natural extract. It explains, however, why natural narcissus oil is so precious and expensive.

Today, the major quantities of natural narcissus essential oil are produced in the Netherlands and in France.

The main varieties used for oil extraction are Narcissus poeticus, Narcissus tazetta and Narcissus jonquill.

Fragrant Varieties

Have you tried smelling a Daffodil or wondered what this wonderful member of the Narcissus family smells like?

Most hybrid and over-bred bulbs you find in some Garden Centres today (and there are several hundred cultivated varieties) will not produce a fragrance and yet there are many wild daffodil varieties (around 26) that are marvelously fragrant. This means in turn there are many different scents and yet the typical olfactive profile associated with Narcissus reads as follows:

heady floral with sweet and green nuances.

The scent of narcissus oil is strong and rich. It reminiscent of dark green leaves with traces of hyacinth and jasmine.

We have also been able to smell some varieties that were ‘spicy’ and others with ‘musky’ or ‘vanillic’ tonalities.

Narcissus would generally be classified as a ‘green-floral’, together with hyacinth and lily of the valley.

Daddodil Fields in Great Windsor Park

If you would like to experience the joys of spring, feast your eyes on an acres of daffodils in the wind and actually smell some beautiful daffodils, then head over to ‘Great Windsor Park’ (near Windsor).

The fields of yellow you will enjoy, perfectly illustrate this poem by William Wordsworth:

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of dancing daffodils
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze

Daffodils in Home Fragrance

Here at PAIRFUM we don’t have a true Daffodil fragrance but our ‘Trail of White Petals’ contains Daffodil oil and this floral perfume has the sweet and green nuances typically associated with Narcissus. Trail of White Petals is available in perfumed candles, natural reed diffusers, perfume room sprays and many other products.

Bring the scent of spring into your home with Daffodils !

There is nothing more enjoyable than a PAIRFUM Flowerwax Candle or Reed Diffuser in ‘Trail of White Petals’, spreading the scent of spring in your home.

Daffodils & Narcissus in Perfumery

Here in the gallery below you can see a few perfumes where the narcissus plays a prominent role in the fragrance accord.

You will notice that we have included both classical fragrances, e.g. Nacisse Noir by Caron for women, and also modern interpretations, e.g. Eau de Narcisse Bleu by Hermès, for both women and men.

Summary

As you can see ‘Daffodils’ or ‘Narcissus’ are quite clearly fragranced and they play a prominent role in perfumery.

Sadly, through breeding many varieties we see today have lost their scent.

Should you be passing Windsor Great Park in the UK in Spring, we invite you to visit the fields full of Daffodils. It is a feast not just for your eyes but also your nose.

Deep Sleep Calm Natural Pillow Spray Pairfum London

Deep Sleep Spray

16/06/202019/02/2019 by Josephine McCarthy

Calming & Natural Pillow Spray

Are you having a problem falling asleep or trying to get a good night’s sleep? Yes, … then using a Deep Sleep Spray can help you solve this problem.

One of our most popular products, that customers come back for repeatedly, is our Natural Sleep Spray, that can be used on your pillows, bed sheets, duvet covers, night clothes, or sprayed into the air.

We all know that there are a number of contributing factors for why we can’t jump into bed and sleep, ranging from the age and condition of your mattress and pillow to the temperature in your room. Not to mention noise levels and how dark and electronic free your resting place is.

Some of the causes for a disturbed nights sleep may seem very obvious, but it is surprising how many people, do not consider them a factor when trying to eliminate or alleviate the cause of a sleepless or restless night.

Pairfum London Linen Lavender Good Night Sleep Spray

One of the most obvious things is that you do not go to sleep in a brightly lit room, bright light especially blue-ish light that is emitted from T.V.’s, Computer Screens, Mobile phones, all send a signal to our brains that it’s still daytime and prevents the body’s natural release of chemicals critical for restful & deep sleep.

Our bodies release chemicals in a 24-hour cycle, telling us to do certain things at certain times.

Each of these cycles is called a circadian rhythm, one of the most important chemicals involved in this process is melatonin, a hormone that makes us feel sleepy.

The amount of melatonin in our bodies starts increasing in the evening, as natural light decreases, and peaks in the middle of the night, letting us know it is time to sleep.

It then decreases by morning, allowing us to wake up refreshed.

Why is it so important that we get a good nights sleep?

Pairfum Flacon Perfume Linen Fabric Signature Linen Lavender

Studies show that four in every ten Americans don’t even get the minimum of seven hours of sleep doctors recommend, and the important word in the previous sentence is ‘MINIMUM’.

This is now considered a public health emergency, as lack of sleep and fatigue leads to both short and long term mental and physical health problems.

Pairfum London Linen Lavender Good Night Sleep Spray Anti Anxiety

Recent studies have shown that Americans currently average only 6.8 hours of sleep per night, down an hour from 1942, which means that they have lost ‘One Full’ hour’s sleep per night since then.

Think of it as having to set your alarm clock an hour earlier every morning … !

This is not something that effects only people living in the USA, but they have recognised the problem and are studying the causes and effects.

As I have mentioned above, study after study has shown that watching a screen before bedtime or while you are lying in bed is an absolute ‘No-no’ – if you wish to drift off to the land of nod and stay there until morning.

So, … whether it’s a TV screen, your laptop, tablet or phone, if you want to fall asleep ditch the pixels until morning.

Pairfum London Linen Lavender Sleep Spray Good Night Relaxing

Expert Tips

The following are some simple tips that will help improve your nights sleep:

Lavender has been shown to decrease heart rate and blood pressure, potentially putting you in a more relaxed state.

In one study, researchers monitored the brain waves of subjects at night and found that those who sniffed lavender before bed had a deeper nights sleep and felt more invigorated in the morning

If Lavender helps us get a better nights sleep – then “Why is that”?

Well, … you will be delighted to know that there is scientific proof to backup the claim:

Lavender oil is mainly composed of linalyl acetate (which is a naturally occurring phytochemical found in many flowers and spice plants, and is one of the principal components of the essential oils of Lavender and Bergamot) and linalool.

Both are natural chemicals that are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Studies on mice have shown that these compounds inhibit several neurotransmitters and have a sedative and pain-relieving effect.

In humans, lavender has been proven to lower the heart rate and reduces anxiety, leading to a more relaxed and peaceful sleep.

Dr. Chris Winter, MD, is a renowned sleep specialist and author of the book: ‘The Sleep Solution – Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It” – He has also been called “The Sleep Whisperer”.

I love this nick name, as it is better to whisper, so you do not wake anyone up.

He stated that scent plays a role in helping people drift off to sleep, with the proviso that the formula contains lavender.

“There are a number of studies that indicate it might have sleep-promoting effects,” he says.

Other notes that are known to help promote relaxation and sleep are Chamomile, Bergamot, Jasmine, Rose, Sandalwood and Valerian.

Recommendations from the Harvard Medical School suggest using dim red lights in the evenings and to expose yourself to bright lights during the day time help to reset your sleep schedule (your internal clock).

In a recent Bedroom Poll by the National Sleep Foundation in the US, 53% of their respondents rated sleeping on sheets with a fresh scent an important contributor to their sleep experience.

If Lavender is not one of your favourite notes, other fragrances that you associate with happy events in your life are also perfect to use.

For example notes or smells that evoke or awaken happy, calming memories, such as walks on the beach or in the woods, a wonderful relaxing holiday, times spent with loved ones, or memories of childhood when sleep came easily at the end of a day well spent.

Dr. Winter, the ‘Sleep Whisperer’, also said that “Sprays can be helpful if we pair a certain smell in our minds with the act of sleep. This is particularly true with travel. If you associate a certain smell with your bedroom, spraying that in your hotel room can trick your brain into thinking you’re at home.”

This is the reason why here at PAIRFUM London, we developed the ‘Voyage’ Spray, it is the perfect travelling partner to take with you on Holiday.

Voyage Natural Perfume Room Spray Livingroom Chrome

We are a London based Natural Niche Perfumery House and we have been working on Sleep Aid Perfume Sprays for a number of years.

Pairfum London Linen Lavender Fabric Spray Fresh Relax

What Is The Perfect Christmas Gift?

23/12/201822/12/2018 by Huib Maat

At this time of the year, in hustle & bustle of pre-Christmas, it is easy to forget why we present gifts and what makes the Perfect Christmas Gift.

With this in mind, we wrote this article.

What Is A Gift?

Here is a definition:

A gift is something (an item or service) given without the expectation of anything in return.

The gift (or present) may be a tangible item or a service.

We undertake the act of ‘giving’ to sustain our social relations (e.g. friend & family) and / or contribute to social cohesion (e.g. charity).

The intention is to make the other happier or less sad.

Christianity consider the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save Humanity to be the greatest gift to humankind.

We accept this sounds all very abstract but felt it is worthwhile at this time of the year to strip everything away and look at the essence of gifting.

Bear with us, you will find out why further down why and what makes the Perfect Christmas Gift.

A Little History

The tradition of gift-giving in generally very old and one of the oldest forms of social interaction.

In the ancient Rome, giving a gift probably happened around the winter solstice, which in Europe occurs in December.

In Christianity, during Christmas period, the custom of gifting is symbolic of the ‘The Three Wise Men’ presenting gifts to the baby Jesus.

It is interesting to note that different countries / Christian religions, practice gifting at different times:

England / Ireland / US / Canada: the 25th

Germany / France: the 24th

Netherlands: 6th of December (St. Nicolas)

Spain: gifts are presented on the ‘Three Wise Men’, e.g. 6th of January

Greece: on the Feast of Saint Basil (the 1st / 2nd of January), gifts are presented.

Going back to our original question:

The Psychology Of Gifting

Gifting allows people to connect!

This is the essence of a gift.

When making a gift, the giver shares their feelings & emotions with the recipient.

In receiving these, the recipient makes a connection with the giver.

In giving a gift, we extend and make ourselves vulnerable to the recipient, as it (or we) may be rejected.

This act displays a strong humility or humbleness.

Making connections with the people gives us self-fulfillment, happiness and purpose.

We have all heard the saying:

“It is better to Give, than Receive”

It is the Path to Happiness.

A Perfect Gift?

So, … this leaves us with the question, how do we make a gift perfect this Christmas?

It is simple, actually:

Inject as much as possible of yourself into the gift.

Here are two ways of doing this:

1 – Make Something

2 – Find the Unique

Make Something

Show some of yourself by making something for the person you intend to make happy.

Here are some ideas:

Cookies, Pralines or something similar that is made with sticky fingers and tastes delicious.

A Painting, Song, Poem or a hand crafted Christmas Deco Item

Chutney or Marmalade with an unusual flavour profile. Let your phantasy go wild.

A handmade piece of clothing, a scarve or hat.

Well, … we suppose you are getting the gist.

What all of these gifts have in common is, that you are making a gift of your own precious ‘Time’ and ‘Thought’.

In the age of 24/7 and especially pre-Christmas, these two are the most scarce.

When making something, you give especially your ‘Time’.

Most people nowadays can easily afford the gift you are making, but what they can’t buy is your ‘Time’ or ‘Thought’.

Find The Unique

When uncovering a gift that is ‘Authentic’ and / or ‘Unique’ you inject your ‘Thought’.

The gift is your skill.

It is your skill (and time) to find something that the recipient would not have been able to purchase her/himself.

It explains why we like Craft Items and the ‘Christmas Market’.

Here are a few ideas that are very popular when giving your ‘skill’ of finding the impossible:

Craft Cheese, Beer, Whisky, Bakery, Chocolates, ….

Products of Limited Quantity or produced in small batches, such as handmade clothing / handbags / jewellery / ….

Niche, Boutique, Artisan or Indie Products with authenticity and limited batch sizes.

This is where we can help you here at Pairfum with our online boutique.

We invite you to introduce your family & friends to Pairfum, The Artisan Perfumers of London, and give them the gift of ‘Your Thought’, it is authentically yours.

You are thinking of them!

This is the Essence of the Perfect Christmas Gift.

Review of Top 10 Essential Oils – Keep Young and Beautiful

16/08/2018 by Josephine McCarthy

Essential Oils – we have heard about them read about them, and most lightly we have used or do use them in our day to day lives.

If you have ever had a professional therapeutic massage or a treatment at your local beautician, maybe you have even been lucky enough to visit a spa..

Then whether you realise it or not the chances are you have had essential oils, applied, massaged or mixed in with your treatment.

Since time immemorial ‘Woman & Mankind’, have been searching for the Elixir of life…..

A magic potion that would help them – Keep Young and Beautiful.

If you would like to find out which one of the Reviewed Top 10 Essential Oils – claims to have ‘Youth Renewing’ properties then read on…

A large number of our customers that run Spa’s or Treatment centres, use the PAIRFUM London Healthy Diffusers and Candles, because they are made using Essential Oils.

Essential Oils are in essence the concentrated liquid extracted from plants, which are highly aromatic and can be used for certain medicinal, pharmacological and culinary purposes.

They have been used for centuries in the creation of Perfumes, Soaps, Lotions, and when processed in a particular way, they are safe to use in cooking, much like the way you may use vanilla or almond extract.

So many articles are written about ‘Wellness’ , and finding ways to promote good health, to help you relax and de-stress after a busy day. Could using Essential Oils be the answer?

Are there any benefits to using Essential Oils, and if so what are they?

We have picked the following ‘Ten Essential Oils’, some you may be familiar with, some less so, whatever the case may be hopefully you will enjoy finding out a little more about them…….

1. Basil Oil:

Every cook knows how wonderful this herb is in cooking, it has also been claimed that use of the oil helps with or alleviates, nausea, motion sickness, indigestion, constipation, relieves cold symptoms, infections, relieves stress, improves blood circulation and helps alleviate Pain… to name but a few. So quite a wide range of uses for this wonderful little plant.

2. Peppermint Oil

If you were asked to describe – Fresh, Green, Sparkling – then for most people peppermint would spring to mind. Used for it’s cooling effects and to help relieve sore muscles. It is well known for it’s ability to aid in digestion, and some claim that it triggers satiety. ( If so – this is one to add to the shopping list). Users also swear by it’s antimicrobial properties, which is why it can be used to fight infections and even freshen your breath. This is one of the reasons we find that little tray of mints on offer at the end of a meal in a restaurant.

3. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus actually refers to a large genus of flowering trees that has over 700 different species, most of which are located in Australia and New Zealand. The oil has historically been used for infections, upset stomach, asthma, joint pain and burns. Known as one of the more versatile essential oils, it’s often found in mouthwashes, etc.. However as with all essential oils it should not be applied directly to the skin, or ingested without first consulting a doctor or specialist.

4. Frankincense Oil

Very few of us have not heard or read about the story of ‘The Three Wise Men’ or ‘The Three Kings’, one of whom brought frankincense as a gift for Jesus of Nazareth. This essential oil is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes obtained from trees, sometimes referred to as Olibanum. Some of the claims made for this oil are that it can offer a variety of health benefits, including helping relieve chronic stress and anxiety, reducing pain and inflammation, and boosting immunity. Some claim that it aids concentration, and that it may help you focus on the task at hand. ( Well, with that in mind – I will also add this one to my shopping list) it’s worth a shot.

5. Juniper oil

A juniper berry is the female seed cone produced by the various species of junipers, not a true berry, but is in fact a cone that looks like a berry (glad we could clear that up for you!) The uses for this oil range from a cleansing and detoxifying agent, to a natural skin toner that reduces the appearance of skin blemishes. Which may be the reason it is found in a variety of skincare products. It may also be the reason some people have the odd restorative ‘G&T’ now and again – just saying….

6. Lavender Oil

If you have not heard of or used Lavender Oil, then the one question that we have to ask is “Where have you been?” One of the most well known aromas worldwide, and we must also mention one of the most polarising aromas (as some people have a well known ‘Marmite Moment’ when you mention it) is used to calm, relax and de-stress. One of PAIRFUM’s best selling products is the Lavender Pillow Spray – For A Deep Night’s Sleep so if you do want to drift off peacefully into the land of nod – then look no further.

7. Lemon Oil

Lemons like most citrus fruit, remind us of Sunshine, Health and Vitality, believed to boost immunity, lemon essential oil can be added to a cup of tea, a glass of water or beer – come to think of it – just about any drink that you want to add a sparkle to. It’s also commonly found in household cleaners, this may be due to the fact that the oils are easier to extract, and for that reason less expensive to produce. The aroma of Lemons is always uplifting and energising.

8. Carrot seed Oil

We have all heard that eating carrots helps maintain or improve our eyesight, well claims for this essential oil also include it’s ‘Youth’ promoting effects, as it contains antioxidant properties. (Note to self – add extra carrots to the shopping list). It is also said to help relieve joint conditions. So! to Keep Young and Beautiful….. it really can’t hurt to put carrots at the top of the shopping list for now….

9. Rose Oil

One of the most expensive ingredients in the Perfumery industry, Rose Oil is the essential oil extracted from the petals of various types of roses. It may be extracted through steam distillation, while rose absolutes are obtained through solvent extraction, the absolute being used more commonly in perfumery. Despite the high price and the advent of organic synthesis, rose oils are still perhaps the most widely used essential oil in perfumery. The Essential Oils are used in a number of applications, as it is believed to be an excellent emollient, a moisturiser for dry skin, contain anti-inflammatory properties to help treat redness and inflammation. Along with possessing antiseptic and astringent properties. Remember that what ever life brings, we should all “Take time to smell the roses”

10. Tea Tree Oil:

Has become more widely know in recent years, a native to Southeast Queensland and the Northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is extracted from the leaves of the’Tea Tree’ or the Melaleuca alternifolia. It is reputed to have antibacterial properties used for scrapes and cuts. It has also been claimed to work on everything from toothaches to head lice…. but as we have mentioned before, as with all Essential Oils it comes with a word of warning – it may cause you to have a severe reactions, so never take or use any Essential Oils without first checking with your Doctor if this is suitable for you to use.

As with everything in ‘LIFE’ it is better to be ‘Safe than Sorry’….. so … A word of caution

While essential oils are generally considered safe to use, they shouldn’t be ingested in large quantities. It should also be noted that they should not be applied to the skin directly, as they may be an irritant or a sensitiser. If you’re thinking about regularly using an oil, you should always insure that you research the usage guidelines and potential risks, especially if there are children or pets in your home.

A NOTE about PREGNANCY:
As not all oils are safe for use during pregnancy. It’s probably safer to refrain from using any oils, since there is no solid evidence of their safety. Plus, pregnant women do tend to be more sensitive to smells and substances during this time. If in doubt always check with your Doctor.

If you would like to know more about the PAIRFUM London Collection – please get in touch we would love to hear from you.

The 70s are back! Remember the Iconic Perfumes of the 70s?

21/07/201820/07/2018 by Josephine McCarthy

If someone told you – The 70s are back , or asked you if you remember the Iconic Perfumes of the 70s?

What is the first thing that springs to mind?

Is it bell-bottoms which were a staple., or words like ‘Groovy and Flower Power’.How about T.V. programs such as Starsky and Hutch, The Dukes of Hazzard and Charlie’s Angels.

Maybe it is the Music, or World events that were happening at the time.

What ever it is that springs to mind, the 1970’s had some iconic styles, great music, wonderful Perfumes and no shortage of political scandal.So like it or not everywhere you look, style trends from the ’70s are back or making a comeback.

If you are wondering why we think the 70s are back? just look at how…

Recently style from the 1970’s has begun to resurface, open a magazine or fashion blog post, and you spot the odd fringe, frayed denim and where would we be without flares.

Do you ever wonder why certain trends come around again when they do?

Is it fashion houses simply regurgitating styles in a cyclical order?

Or! has it to do with ‘Zeitgeist’ – the defining spirit or mood, of what people feel and what is happening in the world.

The good thing is that when you look back at what defines a decade, most people remember the Fashion, Perfume, Food and Music that shaped it.If The 70s are back – then we here at PAIRFUM London want to look back at the wonderful Perfumes of the time.

It is hard to think of Fashion in the 70s without ‘Saint Laurent’ springing to mind, as Yves Saint Laurent was himself synonymous in revolutionising the landscape of 1970’s fashion.

So as an homage to this colourful, ‘Funky’ period in history, we have picked out!

Our Top Ten Iconic Perfumes of the 70s, that helped defined an era:

Charlie the legendary perfume by Revlon presented in 1973, ad campaigns for the scent featured a number of models including Naomi Sims, making Sims the first African American woman in history to be featured in a cosmetic company’s advertising.

Chanel No. 19 perfume was first marketed in 1971. The number 19 was chosen to commemorate Coco Chanel’s birthday, the 19th of August. The perfume was launched just a year before she died, and the scent was created by Henri Robert.

Diorella a fragrance by Christian Dior, for women brought to the market in 1972. Created to symbolises the spirit of freedom of the 1970s.

Rive Gauche a women’s perfume launched by Yves Saint Laurent in 1971, remembered by many for it’s all-aluminium silver and cobalt blue striped bottle.

Opium another of the iconic perfumes created for Yves Saint Laurent in 1977, it caused quite a stir at the time with its controversial name and ad campaigns.

White Linen was created for Estee lauder by Sophia Grojsman in 1978, and was a modern classic.

Anais Anais by Cacharel a fragrance created for women 1978, this was the first perfume created by them.

Cristalle Perfume by Chanel – a fragrance for women released in 1974, remembered by many for it’s Green Notes.Estée Lauder launched Cinnabar in in 1978, in answer to Yves Saint Laurent Opium..First by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena for Van Cleef & Arpels, when Ellena was commissioned to create ‘First’ back in 1976 – it was literally the first ‘jewellery fragrance’ in the world.

There are so many other wonderful Perfumes from the 70s such as, Clinique Aromatics Elixir by perfumer Bernard Chant, Oscar by perfumer Christian Bastard-Lafitte for Oscar de la Renta in1977, Lauren created by perfumer Bernard Chantby for Ralph Lauren also in 1977, Ciara by Revlon in1973… but for now we will just keep it to our top ten

Now when looking back over our selection of some of the classic Perfumes of the 70s, we may be accused of being a bit top-heavy with the Female fragrances of the time.

Why have we not included any Male fragrances?

Well, you must also remember that in the 70’s Men wore ‘Aftershave’, and these great Fragrances that came to epitomise this era are so iconic, that we have decided that they deserve a separate article all to themselves.

So, watch this space!

CognoScenti Fragrancista Perfumista Perfume Passion

Should it be CognoScenti, Fragrancista or Perfumista?

18/07/2018 by Huib Maat

We know what a Perfumer is! but what do we call somebody that is passionate and knowledgeable about Fragrance? PAIRFUM London are asking should it be CognoScenti, Fragrancista or Perfumista?

Perhaps before even posing this question, “Should it be CognoScenti, Fragrancista or Perfumista?” we should start by asking a very important question…

How do you describe a ‘Lover of Perfume’? What sets them apart from the crowd?

What is a ‘CognoScenti’? the dictionary defines it as ‘persons who have superior knowledge and understanding of a particular field, especially in the fine arts, literature, and the world of fashion.

In the World of PAIRFUM, a ‘CognoScenti’ is a person who ‘Loves’ perfume, a connoisseur who can distinguish between a good and a bad fragrance. Somebody who would not be able to, or even wish to create a perfume themselves.

It is the difference between a Gourmet and Chef:

Gourmet, an expert judge in matters of taste and fine dining, also sometimes described as an ‘Epicure’ a person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink.
Chef, a trained professional cook, proficient in all aspects of food preparation. They may focus on a particular cuisine. The term is derived from ‘chef de cuisine’.

So, what do we call somebody that appreciates ‘Fine Perfumes’, regardless of whether it is an Eau de Parfum, a Fragranced Candle or a Body Lotion?You may wonder why we include Home Fragrances and Skin Care products in this question but ask yourself the following:

Have you brought a ‘Perfumed Candle’ or a fragranced gift to a house warming party as an alternative to a bottle of wine?
Have you ever presented a set of beautiful toiletries, as a Gift?

Making a Fragrant Gift has been part of civilisation for thousands of years, perfumes and fragrances can be traced to multiple ancient cultures, Egyptians associated their perfumes with the gods, fragrances were also highly prized by ancient Iranians and Chinese cultures.

Here is an example:

In the bible, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh were presented by the Three Wise Men to the infant Jesus.

It is still a very important part of our cultures today, and it illustrates how much a part of our psyche perfumes or fragrances have become in all their beautifully different facettes.

In this context, many of us will have heard the terms ‘Fragrancista’ and ‘Perfumista’.

Unfortunately, ”Fragrancista” does not easily roll off the tip of our tongue and “Perfumista” and “Parfumista” are registered trademarks (e.g. Puig, a fashion and fragrance business based in Barcelona), which prevents us from using them in our daily lives (the term ‘Hoover’, to mean vacuum, being an exception to this rule).

So how do we Honour, Appreciate or describe ‘Lovers of Perfumes’?

For some inspiration, let’s have a look at the many fields where society has coined phrases to affectionately identify a person with a passion or strong preference. All of these have in common that they do not describe the ‘Chef’ but the ‘Gourmet’, i.e. they don’ actually ‘cook’ or produce / perform the art but ‘eat’ or enjoy it instead :

Whiskey Connoisseur, Beer Connoisseur – need we say more?
Turophile – is a connoisseur of cheese, a cheese lover.
A Sommelier or wine steward, is a trained specialist or wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specialises in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing.
Fashion Aficionado – “Dedicated follower of Fashion” – The Kinks
Devotee is an enthusiastic believer in a particular form of religion or God, but it can also be applied to a person.
Book Critic – some would say they ‘Love’ books, at other times they may just ‘Hate’ them.
Art & Antique Appraisers or Valuers – They love ‘Art & History’ and they know how much it is worth.
A Fan or Supporter – a person who is enthusiastically devoted to something or somebody, such as a singer, band, or a sports team etc.
A Movie Buff – person who loves and knows a lot about movies, movie fan, movie enthusiast, movie expert.
Geek – once an insult now a compliment, someone who engages in or discuss computer-related tasks with great attention to technical detail – one of the reasons we love this word ‘The Big Bang Theory’
A Birder – in Oxford English ‘A birdwatcher’ – Somebody that loves to study and admire birds in their natural habitat
Balletomane – an ardent admirer or lover of Ballet
Enthusiast of Music – a person who is very driven or has a huge passion for music and musical culture.
Theatre Lover
Afficionado – a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime.
A Patron of the arts
Follower – throughout history a follower has always had a special meaning, and in the age of ‘Social Media’ it continues to do so.

From the list above we can see how we describe a person’s expertise or passion in their field, even if they are not the ‘chef’.

As the old joke goes: “A farmer is out-standing in his or her own Field”

There are many other terms that we use to describe a passionate follower or lover of a particular subject: adherent, supporter, upholder, defender, advocate, champion, disciple, votary, partisan, member, friend, stalwart, believer, worshipper, attender, expert, authority, specialist, pundit and last but but not least ‘dab hand'( if you are a ‘dab hand’ at something, you are very good at doing it).

Now what is very important to note is that none of these specialists, may actually know how to make, create or play the art they support and yet, they are very knowledgeable and in some cases more knowledgeable than the creators themselves.

Here is an example (with the recent World Cup in mind):

a Footballer as a opposed to a Fan/Pundit, the former actually plays the game, whereas the latter appreciates it.

In trying to correctly define a ‘Lover of Perfume’, we came across a phrase that we believe would be perfect to describe somebody that loves perfume:

“CognoScenti” or “CognoScente”

( We could even go a step further with this version: Cog-Nose-centi )

As we mentioned earlier in the post, these are “people who have superior knowledge and understanding of a particular field”

A quote from Mirriam Webster describes “Cognoscente and Connoisseur” as more than synonyms; they’re also linguistic cousins”

How do you spot a “CognoScenti” or how do you know if you are, or fast becoming one?

Answer these questions and you might surprise yourself:

Do you enter the room with your nose first? (before you say ‘No’ – think how often you have reveled in the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, bread or a wonderful meal, before ever taking a single step into the kitchen, restaurant or bakery!!)
Do you smell wine, chocolate, cheese or other items, before you taste or try them?
Do you get excited about a new Perfume, a scented Candle, room Perfume or reed Diffuser?
Can you re-create in your mind’s eye the fragrance of Lavender, or freshly mown grass?

If you can answer ‘Yes’ to any or all of the above, then you should give yourself a pat on the back, and proudly carry the title of “CognoScenti”.

In turn, we are delighted to meet and welcome you to the World of PAIRFUM, perfume and its many glorious facettes.

Making Scents Pairfum Fragrance Layering

Fragrance Layering In Your Home

11/05/201811/05/2018 by Josephine McCarthy

Layering in Fashion

Layering is a concept that has been around for a while in fashion and many of us are experts at layering and combining clothes to create our own, ‘personal look’, whereas fragrance layering is still relatively new. Regardless of whether you are speaking with catwalk designers or high street boutiques, they all talk about layering.

Playful layering is always on the style agenda, especially when navigating the changeable weather conditions of the Spring and Summer Seasons. We can indulge our creative sides by mixing different textures and fabrics with a variety of lengths and colours and then accessorising them with scarves and jewellery. Now, men’s fashion is also turning to luxury layering and it could be seen at recent catwalks in Paris.

When we are not yet entirely sure of the weather, when one week we are basking in tropical temperatures, to running for cover from a mini-monsoon the next, we have all become dab hands at the tricky art of layering our clothes to be prepared for different conditions.

Fragrance Layering

Layering is not only associated with one’s outfit but can also include our perfume. The latest trend is taking the skill of layering clothes and adapting the principles to our skin, by layering our perfumes and beauty products for a more dynamic and unique scent.

The key to mastering layering is knowing which notes work well together and how they enhance each other. It is all about incorporating the right scents into your beauty routine to make your perfume work harder for you. When thinking about layering perfume it is important to remember that fragrances have top, heart and base notes.

Here are a few perfumer’s tips for fragrance layering:

• For Spring and Summer, the nicest combinations of fragrance layering is created when you combine light with heavy fragrances. For example, you can adapt your typical ‘winter’ or ‘evening wear’ fragrance for summer use by layering a fresh, light scent over the top.

• Take one of your ‘classic’ perfumes and layer something ‘trendy’ over the top.

• Start your journey towards professional fragrance layering, by using fragrances which are as close as possible to single ingredients, such as the very trendy ‘soliflorals’.

• Alternatively, use fragrances from the same fragrance family to start with, such as floral, oriental, herbacious, citrus, wood, etc. Once you are pleased with your results and become more confident, you can combine perfumes from contrasting families, such as layering citrus over oriental, floral over woody, herbacious over musky.

• Begin with the heavier of the fragrances you plan to combine and use them sparingly, as they may overpower the lighter notes you have in mind. You may have to use more of the lighter fragrance to counterbalance the impact of the heavier perfume.

• Layer by combining different applications. Fragrance oils will naturally bind with the oils in your moisturiser or body oil. This insight allows you to layer a light, fresh eau de toilette over a heavier, rich body lotion.

• You can also layer by applying fragrance to different parts of your body. For example, start with fragrance on your pulse points (wrist, elbow, neck) and finish with a different fragrance for your hair. Alternatively, a fragrance on your wrists and elbow easily combines with another fragrance for your neck or under your arms.

Be prepared to share your secret, when you receive a compliment. The compliments may come from the most surprising directions.

Fragrance Layering At Home

The concept of layering can also be adapted to fragrances in our home and the same basic rules apply.

Many real estate agents are known for warming bread in an oven for open houses or preparing fresh coffee to welcome the visitor to a viewing. Smells send out subliminal ‘welcome’ or ‘comfort’ messages when you open the front door.

This is exactly what you do when you welcome people into your home. Take this a step further by combining various fragrances in your home to provide a multitude of sensorial experiences when walking from one room to the next, as fragrance layering can really enhance the ambience of your home.

A perfumer’s approach to layering fragrances at home

One of the reason’s why we struggle to perceive the fragrance we apply to our skin during the course of the day, is that our noses get used to our own fragrances. They literally get ‘saturated’.

The mistake in layering fragrances at home is consequently to use fragrances which are ‘too similar’. Imagine you have just been in your bedroom which has a beautiful floral fragrance, and then walk into the corridor, also with a floral fragrance. It is likely that your nose will have difficulties noticing the difference.

Instead, we suggest that you distinguish between the ‘spine’ of your house and the ‘outlying’ rooms. In the spine of your home, which are corridors, hallways or any other central room in your home, you should have a distinctly different fragrance from the connecting outlying rooms, such as bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms. For example you could use heavier fragrances from a similar ‘olfactive range’ in the entrance hall (for example a vanilla fragrance) and then entice your visitors into your living room with a lighter floral perfume, such as a beautiful rose note. Equally, you can do the same and contrast ‘herbal’ fragrances with ‘fruity’ or ‘floral’ perfumes.

The Spine

Here are a few suggestions for the ‘spine’ of your home that combine well with many different perfumes:

Innocent Vanilla: A rich white floral top note of Louisiana magnolia invites you into a soft, enveloping heart of white musk, infused with crushed vanilla pods and resting on a base of sandalwood. This is an ideal, heavier ‘base’ fragrance for your home, as it combines exceptionally well with other fragrances.

SPA: A beautiful aquatic note with a tangy, effervescent top note of bergamot, mandarin, rosemary, lavender and fresh violet leaves. Radiation from heart are sea salt and mineral notes, with aerial and translucent flowers (lily of the valley, jasmine) and accents of green tea. The fond is layered with vibrant woody (cedar, patchouli), ambery and mossy accords (oakmoss). This is a lighter, fresher ‘base’ perfume, around which you can easily layer other perfumes in your home.

Outlyers

The following are some fragrance suggestions for the ‘outlying’ rooms of your house, as they will contrast well with the two afore mentioned perfumes:

Black Orchid: An exotic fragrance with rich top notes of Anjou pear, dark cassis and orange slice. The heart is elegantly floral with notes of black orchid, powdery violet, olive leaf, freesia and ginger flower leading to a sensual base of musk, copahu balm and vanilla pod.

Trail of White Petals: A delicate and yet sparkling white floral note infused with jasmine blossom, interlaced with lily, white rose and ylang-ylang. The top note has a hint of apple and the fond rests on a base of precious sandalwood and musk.

Pink Grapefruit: A vibrantly pink grapefruit fragrance with added complexity from mandarin, lime and bergamot. Floral notes of jasmin and lily lend a feminine touch and deep sophistication comes from a sandalwood accord in the base note.

Neroli & Olive: The distilled fragrance of the Mediterranean: a sophisticated accord built around the vibrant citrus notes of neroli, pomelo and lime and yet softened with jasmine petals. Vertiver, patchouli and leather add depth and complete the sensation of walking through an olive grove on a warm, sunny day.

Accents and Base Notes

Another form of layering fragrances at home is contrasting continuous ‘base fragrances’ with sporadic ‘accents’.

For example, imagine your bathroom with a continuous, beautifully warm vanilla fragrance but then you come home and prepare a bath and would like to add a relaxing lavender scent. Alternatively, you have a wonderfully floral fragrance in your living room but in the evening you may wish to add something ‘light & fresh’ to compliment a soft balmy evening, or ‘warm & comforting’ to keep the winter chills at bay.

Does this sound familiar?

Layering fragrances in these situations is similar to layering perfumes onto your skin: you use a base fragrance and then add an accent over the top.

The ideal product to give your rooms a base fragrance is a reed diffuser. Products that can add an accent are natural perfume candles or room perfume sprays.

Another suggestion is to use a bouquet of beautifully fragrant flowers for the base note, for examples ‘lilies’, and combine these with a luxurious fragrance candle to give your room the desired atmospheric accent when your visitors arrive.

There are many other creative ways how you can think outside of the box for a base fragrance, and an accent in each room.

A Final Note

The PAIRFUM London Collection offers you healthy and luxurious options for base and accent fragrances to suit your rooms. The PAIRFUM Collection is designed to be displayed proudly in your home and will fit perfectly into any interior style, regardless of whether this is ‘minimalist’, ‘country cottage’, ‘funky’ or ‘palatial’.

The sophisticated yet subtle blending of the perfume notes in the fragrances makes them a welcome addition to any home.

The PAIRFUM London collection is available online in our boutique.

What is your Perfume Personality?

10/05/2018 by Josephine McCarthy

Do you have a Perfume Personality and do you know what it is?

If you are trying to buy that ‘Perfect Perfume’ for someone special, how do you go about choosing it?

It can be a very difficult task as perfumes are very personal and different scents evoke different memories and emotions for different people. In some cases what smells wonderful on you might not suit someone else, since everyone’s individual skin pH may alter a perfume slightly. If you’re trying to express your feelings with perfume, then nothing expresses it worse than choosing a badly thought-out bottle of fragrance.

Afraid To Choose?

Maybe one of the reasons that people tend to buy the same perfume again and again, for themselves or a loved one, is not that they ‘love’ the fragrance but because they are afraid to make a mistake when choosing something so personal for someone else, or they are just unsure about trying something different, when it is easier to go to the tried and tested, safe option.

Smell works 40 times faster than the thought process in the brain. A scent can immediately take you back to a moment or emotion, and you could be creating a life-long memory for someone. So,… get it right and you have created a wonderful memory, but get it wrong and you may be creating just the opposite.

For Whom Is The Fragrance?

Luckily there are some simple guidelines that you can follow when picking out that ‘Perfect Perfume’.

Remember who you are shopping for! It may sound obvious but we can sometime forget and get carried away with testing perfumes and deciding whether ‘We’ like them or not. For example, ‘Teenagers’ tend to like fragrances that they see their favourite celebrity wearing, or that they have heard about from their friends in school or on social media. They will, like most teenagers, most likely have dropped not so subtle hints to guide you along the way. We find that ‘fruity’ or ‘gourmand’ style fragrances tend to be preferred by teenagers.
If it is for a close Friend or a Sister, then remember all the information you already know about them. You probably know what kind of fragrance the person wears now, or even the kinds of scents they are drawn to, like soft floral or fresh citrus notes. Do you remember some of the fragrances they have loved in the past? Maybe a modern interpretation has been introduced which may be ideal for them.
If its for your Mother or Mother-in-Law, then she may have some classic Perfumes she reverts to time and again, no matter what the occasion is. If this is the case, then this is the perfect opportunity to add to her fragrance wardrobe with a variation of her favourite scent.
How someone dresses can also give you a hint about their taste in perfume, is it Feminine or Fun, Ladylike or Tomboyish or a combination of all, depending on their mood. A combination of all would give you a wider choice as they will be open to trying different scents.

Fragrance & Personality

Most Perfume purists would agree that you should work out which of the three feminine fragrance families the person you are giving the Perfume to belongs to:

Floral – fragrances created around accords dominated by red Florals, white Florals and green Florals
Oriental – warm spicy notes of resin, vanilla and musk
Chypre – this is an accord with elements of moss, wood, oakmoss and other fresher elements
Citrus – lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, … the list endless.
Fruity – red fruits, yellow fruits, tropical or exotic fruits
Woody – notes of sandalwood and patchouli dominate these feminine perfumes

A more in-depth overview of fragrance groups can be found here.

Below is perfume personality that has been associated with these olfactive classes:

Women wearing florals have been described as carefree, uncomplicated and open.
Oriental wearers are ‘Larger than Life’, extravagant personalities that love big exotic oriental perfumes bursting with life.
Chypre or Woody is usually worn by personalities that are more subtle and understated in style. Perhaps, they are classical and their taste is tailored.
Fruity notes are the domain of youth! It might be because they are still growing or full of energy that fragrances with an edible connotation are their preferred choice.

Also take into account various elements of their interior style, are they Classic, Sumptuous, Minimalist or Shabby-Chic. What are the home fragrances you come across in their house? It may not be something that springs to mind when choosing a perfume for someone, but it can be an excellent indicator of their olfactive taste, and can help you decide which ‘Perfume Personality’ they have.

Take Your Time

If you are still unsure which perfume to choose, then make sure to take your ‘Time’ and don’t buy in a rush while charging through the airport to catch your flight or drifting by the perfume counter in your favourite department store.

Invest a little time in researching and trialling what is the Perfect Perfume for that Perfect Someone.

It will be time well spent, as you are about to invest both money and a part of yourself in this gift and the olfactive memory or moment that you are about to create for your loved one.

Organic Hand Wash Lotion Carrier Bag Pink Grapefruit Cedar Noir

What are Pre-Biotics as opposed to Pro-Biotics ?

03/05/201802/05/2018 by Huib Maat

You may have heard of the terms such as ‘Pre-biotics’ and ‘Pro-biotics’ being mentioned in association with digestive health, but what are Pre-biotics as opposed to ‘Pro-biotics’ ? While they may sound similar, they are very different and play different roles in our digestive system / gut or in the flora of our skin.

Pre-Biotics v Pro-Biotics

Prebiotics are classified as non-digestible food ingredients that can be utilised by Probiotics in the gut. They are soluble, fermentable fibers that we are unable to digest in our stomachs, which allows them to progress through to our intestines, where they are fermented by Probiotics and turned into short-chain fatty acids that increase healthy bacteria in the gut.

FOS and Inulin

Research has shown that FOS and Inulin are some of the most beneficial types of Prebiotics for feeding our gut bacteria. They come from the same family of fructo-polysaccharides and although they both carry out a very similar job in terms of promoting the size and diversity of our gut bacteria, some research has also indicated that FOS may wield a broader restorative benefit than Inulin. FOS is extracted from sources such as the blue Agave plant which has been found to have the highest concentrations of ‘FOS’ of all cultured plants.

Good Bacteria

Probiotics on the other hand are live beneficial bacteria, that are found in fermented food products such as yogurt, traditional buttermilk, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, kimchi and kombucha. Many types of probiotics are similar to the bacteria naturally residing in our guts. We have 100 trillion bacteria living in our stomach and intestines, but poor diet, antibiotics, hormones, stress or too much alcohol can upset this natural balance.

It is very important to have a large number of microbes in your digestive system, but it is equally as important to have a wide diversity, which creates a more robust bacterial ecosystem where good bacteria grow and thrive. Natural sources of Probiotics have been found to have a greater variety of good bacteria.

Bacteria & Health ?

Scientists are still discovering how and why exactly gut bacteria plays such a vital role in our health. What is known, however, is that the gut’s bacterial makeup affects us far more than previously assumed. Along with improved digestion, having abundant and varied colonies of good gut bacteria has been linked to better health, such as lower cholesterol levels, improved blood sugar regulation and improved mood.

Fibre

Prebiotics and Probiotics are both essential to your health, that much is clear, but how should we go about consuming both Probiotics and Prebiotics?

Probiotics and Prebiotics can both be consumed through food. Foods such as chicory root, onion, garlic, jerusalem artichokes and beans are all good sources thanks to their high soluble fiber content, as are sources of resistant starch. A fiber that gets its name because it “resists” digestion in the stomach. Resistant starch can also be found in oats, unripe or green bananas and peas.

Are Humans Bacteria?

We now understand that humans are 90% microbial but only 10% human and that the average human has over 100 trillion microbes in and on their body.

Yet we have spent the previous decades focusing on trying to kill all bacteria, e.g anti-bacterial handwash. In other words, we have spent decades and millions of pounds trying to kill or attack ‘90%’ of our own biological makeup.

The latest research is now challenging previously held beliefs about good and bad bacteria. We are now witnessing the shift away from everything being ‘ant-ibacterial’ to a new understanding of the complex bacterial system in our bodies and in the world around us.

We are a symbiotic organism that relies heavily on our relationship with bacteria both inside and out. In recent years, due to new research, we have become more aware of the importance of the microbial ecosystem or the microbiome and our wellbeing, both internal and external, e.g. our skin.

Microflora of the Skin ?

We actually have more bacteria on our skin than we do in our body.

Just like your gut, your skin has a delicate balance of bacteria called a Flora or Microbiome. The skin microbiome protects us from invasive virus-causing pathogens and maintains the pH function of the skin.

Consider this, your Skin is the human body’s largest organ. Our skin is made up of three layers:

epidermis: the outermost layer
dermis: the cells in the epidermis are continually replaced with cells produced in this inner or bottom layer. It also contains nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels.
hypodermis: our deeper subcutaneous tissue that is made of fat and connective tissue.

Together these layers provide us with protection and are vital for our survival. The skin is a protective covering and our first barrier to fight illness and disease, whilst also protecting the body against extremes of temperature, damaging sunlight and it also manufactures vitamin D for converting calcium into healthy bones.

Considering just some of the functions that this wonderful organ does for us, and the fact that our skin works so well during most of our lifetime, we tend to take it for granted. It is only when something goes wrong that we start to sit-up and take notice.

Probiotics are already sold worldwide as a solution for gut problems, but the benefits of Prebiotics are only now starting to be recognised in the skincare industry for the health benefits they offer the skin microbiome and your overall natural wellbeing.

Educating the Immune System

The skin flora also commonly referred to as skin microbiota refers to the diverse milieu of microorganisms which reside on the skin, many of which are beneficial to their host (that means us Humans). One of the many wonderful processes preformed by the skin flora or microbiota is that it also educates the immune system, as it changes and adapts to the environment in which we find ourselves by modulating and adapting the skin flora.

To further our understanding of the health of the skin and the diverse ecosystem that our microbiota is composed of, microbiologists, immunologists and dermatologists are working alongside genomic scientists to develop a more complete picture of the skin microbiota and how it interacts with us, it’s hosts. This work has and will advance our understanding of the delicate balance between host and microorganism. To put it simply, the symbiotic relationship between us and the skin we live in.

This amazing research is completely altering how we look at beauty products, skin health and changes the focus from removing all bacteria from the skin.

For decades we have seen all bacteria as ‘bad bacteria’. This attitude to bacteria and in particular skin bacteria, is changing with better insight and understanding of our Skin Flora or Microbiome and how it works for and not against us.

Pre-Biotic or Microbiome Skin Care

For this reason, which is now over three years ago, PAIRFUM London decided to bring to the market a range of prebiotic or, as they are sometimes described, microbiome skin care products.

This skin care range uses ‘prebiotics’ to feed the skin’s Flora or Microbiome and will help to rebuild the skin barrier. They are designed to provide the perfect environment for the skin and its ‘Good Bacteria’ to re-balance and thrive.

Let’s embrace our bacteria to lead healthier lives!

Pairfum Pre-Biotic Hand Lotion

Pairfum Pre-Biotic Body Lotion