Why do most fragrances smell so similar?
It is easier to copy than to be original.
We are London's Artisan Perfumers.
Always Original.
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Best Top 10 Men’s Colognes
When deciding to write a post on the best men’s colognes, it is normally the – Best Top 10 Men’s Colognes for 2018, or Top 10 Men’s Colognes.
Why Top Ten, why not the Top Twenty or the Top Thirty Five for that matter?
Why refer to them as Colognes for Men, when the word ‘Cologne’ refers to a perfume ‘Classification’, and is not gender specific?
Well now that I am on a roll asking questions! why does it have to be Top Ten Men’s Cologne for 2018 – how about a trip back in time to remember some of the wonderful Men’s fragrances of the 60s, 70s or 80s.
Just like the releases of today, there were some wonderful creations, some you may not have thought so wonderful but they were memorable.
When looking back at the Classic Men’s Perfumes of the 70’s, you quickly realised that the offerings at the time were in general referred to as Men’s Aftershave, as the word ‘Cologne’ was taken to refer to the iconic ‘4711’ – you see we have made some progress…
So enough Q&A for now, back to the wonderful Men’s grooming products that have in some instances become classics.
Starting in the late 1960s, single-note musk fragrances became very popular, reaching their peak in the 70s.
It was the decade that saw an increase in unisex fragrances, and the creation of the first natural and organic perfumes. It was also the decade in which the number of Men’s fragrances increased in relation to Women’s – for example in the 50s there were 6 Men’s fragrances brought to market – now compare this to 69 that was launched in the 70s…..
When you mention a particular brand or a perfume name from one of these era’s, most people over the age of 25+ have a memory they can connect to one of these. They could immediately associate them with their Grandfather or even Father.
Old Spice: by the Shulton Company(now a part of P&G), although it has been around since the 1930’s, it was in the 1970’s that it changed from being a shaving brand to a fragrance brand by introducing signature scents like ‘Old Spice Burley’. In 2008, the original Old Spice scent was re-branded as “Classic Scent”, with the ‘Old Spice Classic shower gel’ being sold using the wonderful slogan – “The original”- If your grandfather hadn’t worn it, you wouldn’t exist.” – Now if this isn’t a reason to wear fragrance, we don’t know what is!!
Kouros: from the Yves Saint Laurent stable which just missed the 70’s, being brought to market in 1981, is a perfume that we could not fail to mention. This Fougère accord that was inspired by a trip to Greece – hence the name, is one that is known by almost anyone who has any interest or love of masculine fragrances.
Aramis: by perfumer Bernard Chant in 1965, going back even further into our perfume memory banks. They claimed at the time that this was created to be the most elegant Men’s Cologne in the world, and when worn by the right man who could argue with them…
Jovan: the US brand that was founded in 1972 and is synonyms with musk, it was also a market leader in marketing techniques being the 1st Fragrance to sponsor a Rock Band, which it did in 1981 on the Rolling Stones ‘Tattoo You’ tour.
EAU SAUVAGE: released in 1966 by Christian Dior and was created for them by perfumer Edmond Roudnitska. The name for the perfume was chosen by Dior when his friend Percy Savage turned up late for an appointment … true or not it is certainly an unusual way to choose the moniker for your new fragrance. It was famous for its fresh, citrusy notes with spicy Lavender on a woody base.
Ralph Laurens: their first male fragrance contained a very distinctive pine note, and was packaged in a very disincentive forest green bottle
Polo is one of the first two perfumes by Lauren, and was created by Carlos Benaim in 1978.
Faberge Brut: first launched in 1964 by Fabergé, called “The Essence of Man” in one of its advertisements, and who could forget the U.K. advertising campaign with the heavyweight boxer Sir Henry Cooper who asked us to “splash it all over”.
Paco Rabanne Pour Homme: the first of the aromatic-fougère family, combining spicy and woody notes, Since 1973 this fragrance has been an established cornerstone of contemporary perfumery. It inspired countless men’s fragrances for decades after it’s launch.
Pour Monsieur – In 1972 Pierre Cardin launched his first men’s fragrance, it was a classic of the spicy masculines notes of the 1970’s, and one of the first to come in a non-aerosol spray. The reason for mentioning this is, that Gentlemen were for the most part, used to applying their ‘aftershave’ using the ‘Splash’ method. With the advent of atomisers there was for a time – a tenancy to shall we say “Over apply”, until the lessons of ‘Less is More’ was grasped.
Tabac: created by Mäurer & Wirtz in 1959, it may be around for almost 5 decades, but it is loved as much now as it was then – despite or maybe because of the priceless – “Peter Wyngarde Smells – long pause – Great”…… advert.
I was told by someone recently, that one of their most vivid memories of the 70s was of them as a child choosing a Christmas or birthday gift for their father or grandfather. Due to the lack of choice in both what was on offer and their budget constraints, it was a toss-up between Old Spice, Brut, Blue Stratos or if all else failed Denim – well the advert for Denim aftershave did say “It looks good on a Woman but smells better on a Man”….. quite an achievement that an Ad can make you both smile and cringe simultaneously…..
There are so many wonderful Men’s Colognes from the 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s, that we can’t mention them all – especially in an article entitled the Best Top 10 Men’s Colognes.
However we could not finish off without mentioning the colourful, wonderful, imaginative and in some cases most definitely suspect advertising campaigns that went along with these fragrances and the era.
For starters – how about encouraging Men to “Start a fire, that Women can’t put out” – as if Women are not busy enough already… Or Play Dirty it’s Cricket..
How about “Englishmen have more dash, Italians are suave- How come Scandinavian Men get to carry on the way they do?” – well to find out the answer to that you would have to ask Shulton the makers of Teak Men’s fragrance in 1968…
Men’s Colognes have been around for thousands of years, albeit under a large number of different guises. They have the ability to capture our attention, and the reason for wearing them ? well if we are very honest it is to capture the attention of other people. They have become a part of our everyday life, and if you were to ask almost every man you know do they wear Cologne, Aftershave of Perfume, then the answer would be a resounding “YES” and it is really easy to see WHY!!
Here at PAIRFUM London we love Men’s Colognes, Men’s Eau de Parfum, Men’s Eau de Toilette, we are really lucky that we get to create Perfume for a living – for Men, for Woman and for the Home.
If you would like to discover more about our New ‘Eau de Parfum’ that will be launched shortly – then please click HERE
How to Evaluate, Sample, Smell or Test Fragrance?
We are often asked how to evaluate, smell perfume or test fragrance.
It may seem like a strange question “How do you Test Fragrance” ?
However it really is not as strange as it seems, some people would say “Just open a bottle spray and take a sniff”
Finding the right fragrance is not quite as straight forward as it may seem, at times it would appear that there can be no logic behind your choice of perfumes because your emotions are so intrinsically linked to your sense of smell.
We are conditioned to have smell preferences, and our response to a particular odour or note could be based partially on our individual genetic make-up, and partially on our life experiences.
So what do we mean by this?
In simple terms it means that we all have an ‘olfactory blueprint’, which like us is totally unique. Think of it as your life’s experiences or life’s road map all happily recorded in our smell memory.
No two individuals are alike and just as we respond differently to different situations, colours, music, art, clothes, food or wine, we also react differently to something that we smell.
We here at PAIRFUM London are delighted that this is the case, could you just imagine for a moment how boring the World would be if we all liked the same thing… colour, food, wine, clothes..
Taking this idea a step further it would also mean that we would all, be attracted to the same type of partner, scientists have already proven that mice can and do, detect compatibility genes by smell, and that certain fish choose their mates by their colour. How this works in humans, is still not fully understood.
However it is such a fascinating topic, it deserves a post all to itself – so that is one for another time.
So! how should we Evaluate, Sample, Test or Smell Perfume..
Well, the Perfume World is divided into families, and then divided yet again into sub-family’s. Technically, ‘fragrance families’ are a classification system that the perfume industry has used for years. In the language of scent a ‘Family’ is used to place individual perfumes into olfactory groups, based on their more dominant characteristics.
When choosing which scent or perfume to wear we often without even realising it, gravitate to the same ‘fragrance family’ time and again. Instinctively, we prefer scents from some fragrance families and dislike others.
However this may vary or alter slightly with a change in temperature or weather, for colder months we may prefer a warmer note and a lighter, fresher note for Spring or Summer.
The in-house perfumer here at PAIRFUM London, Huib Maat has just written a more in depth article on how to evaluate, sample, test Fragrance. If you would like to find out more, and learn how to do it like a professional then please click here.
How to make a Reed Diffuser that is Personalised?
We are often being asked the question, “How to make a Reed Diffuser that is Personalised?
We all enjoy fresh, fragrant flowers or at the very least a natural uplifting or calming fragrance in our homes. This explains why over the past number of years, reed diffusers have become a very popular and a ‘must-have’ addition to our rooms.
They have a timeless simplicity and versatility, that enables their inclusion into every room or interior design scheme make them universally loved.
Today, they are available in every shape and size in a wide variety of fragrances, from a variety of brands – even companies that would not normally be associated with or have a background in perfumery……….???
There are times however when:
a) The diffuser you have chosen may not quite fit the overall theme of your home, or the scheme you have chosen for a particular room.
b) You would like to add a more personalised touch to your interior scheme, or
c) It may be for a special occasion such as a Wedding or a party.
For these or other special occasions, we have a simple suggestion:
1. Turn your favourite vase into a unique reed diffuser.
The rising popularity of reed diffusers has seen us all getting used to refilling our bottles with a reed diffuser refill and inserting fresh reeds. We all know how to do this.
Did you know though, that you can do the same with your favourite vase or bottle?
Using your favourite vase or a unique bottle, to create an aesthetically pleasing decorative item will take just a few moments of your time, and yet you will create a touch of elegance to perfectly compliment your home décor.
To clarify, you will need the following items to create your unique reed diffuser:
• Your chosen vase or decanter
• PAIRFUM reed diffuser refill – well you would not expect us to recommend anything but the best to you – would you?
• PAIRFUM’s extra-long natural rattan reeds – yet again, nothing but the best is good enough for you.
Choosing extra-long reeds is vital for the success of your reed diffuser because if the reeds are too short, then not enough of the rattan sticks out of the top of the bottle. You will find in this case that the reed diffuser will not be strong enough to fragrance your room. As a rule of thumb, you need at least 10 reeds that stick about 6 – 8 inch or 15 -20 cm out of the bottle.
Please note, the next critical step in this process is that you only select a vase, bottle, decanter or any other vessel that is resistant to perfume oils. If you are in any doubt about this, then please do not attempt this.
We recommend only using the following types of vases or vessels:
– Made from glass or crystal without any lacquer, paint, varnish, coating, fabric, paper etc on the inside or outside. Please insure that any type of container you choose is free from cracks, chips or defects that may cause it to leak or spill.
– Made from ceramic, porcelain or earthenware that are glazed on the inside and outside.
This may sound very restrictive (and probably is) but it is better to be ‘safe’, than ‘sorry’. After all is said and done, you are using one of your preferred vases.
On the other hand, you will be surprised how many beautiful, graceful and interesting vases or bottles you have in your cupboards that would be ideal to be used as a reed diffuser.
Just have a look around.
When selecting a reed diffuser refill oil, here at PAIRFUM, we recommend choosing a ‘healthy’ refill fluid:
– Natural,
– Without alcohol (as these don’t last very long), and
– Non-VOC (meaning free from solvents that damage your lungs and in particular free from glycols)
All of PAIRFUM’s reed diffuser refills and Diffusers meet these criteria.
Now that you have all the ingredients assembled, it’s time to put it all together.
Begin by filling your favourite or chosen container with the reed diffuser refill oil to approximately 50% of the volume of the container, this is done to insure that you leave room for the reeds (if in doubt, then just fill it to the halfway mark).
Next, place the reeds inside the vessel, you will notice that the level of fragrance oil inside the container rises(think of it as the Eureka effect), which is why we advised earlier to fill to only 50%. This avoids spillage when you insert the reeds, and will insure that the liquid does not flow over the edge.
As with all reed diffusers, the reeds will now begin to soak up the fragrance infusion and the perfume will begin to travel up the reeds. Once the perfume has soaked or ‘wicked’ up the reeds past the neck of the bottle, your personalised reed diffuser will begin to fragrance you home.
Please take the usual precautions with reed diffusers and be careful if you are placing your reed diffuser on a wooden, lacquered or porous surface you may wish to use a coaster as fragrance oils can leave marks on certain surfaces.
Pro Tip: the optimum position for your reed diffuser is where it catches a little air flow that enables the fragrance to disperse, enhancing the atmosphere and setting the ambience you wish to create.
And there you have it – your very own, personal but luxurious reed diffuser in both scent and design.
The PAIRFUM collection is available online at www.pairfum.com
Wine Tasting & Your Sense of Smell
We have been approached by a wonderful Wine company, who would like to do a Wine Tasting & Your Sense of Smell event…
It may not be something we automatically think about in this way, but although each sense has it’s own receptor organs, smell and taste belong to our chemical sensing system – known as chemosensation.
Our sense of smell is our oldest sense detecting chemicals that relate to smell or taste, it provides us with the information we need to survive in the environment that surrounds us.
The sensation of taste includes five established basic tastes: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and savoury or Umami.
The majority of flavors are recognised through the sense of smell. Many of us have at sometime experienced how food looses it’s flavour when we have a head cold or a blocked nose.
Even though you can distinguish a foods sweetness or bitterness, if you hold your nose while eating chocolate, you will have trouble identifying which particular flavour of chocolate it is.
Why is this you may ask?
Well the reason for this is that the flavor of chocolate is sensed largely by our sense of smell, this is also the case with Coffee. So if you wish to fully experience or savour a wonderful flavor, then it really is a case of the ‘Nose knows You Know’.
This leads us perfectly into why having a Wine Tasting & Your Sense of Smell event, makes perfect sense.
Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to visit a winery, a vineyard or even watched a televised program about wine. Will have seen that before ever attempting to take a sip of wine.. the experts will evaluate the wine by employing four basic steps – looking, swirling, smelling, and last but not least tasting.
You do not have to be a true wine expert, also known as a Sommelier or Wine steward, to enjoy or savour the moment. These tried and tested rituals of wine tasting have been developed over millennia.
The iconic Marilyn Monroe once said – “There are no Women who do not like perfume, there are women who have not found their scent” –
Now that started us wondering – if this could also be applied to Wine?, although it would not only apply to Women………..
As in:
“There is no one who does not like wine, there are just people who have not found their vintage yet” – Huib Maat
Our nostrils are ‘Ipsilateral’(which means ‘on or affecting the same side of the body’) – this allows us to smell two odours simultaneously, it also means that you could in theory smell a Red wine with your right nostril and a White with your left, with the information being send to the corresponding side of the brain !!!
We can just imagine what a Sommelier would make of this suggestion …..
So what do you think?
Would you like to join PAIRFUM London at a – Wine Tasting & Your Sense of Smell Event?
Then please get in touch using the contact form on our site – https://www.pairfum.com/contact/
“Homo Faber” Showcases The Very Best Of European Craftsmanship
The Finest of European Craftsmanship, from jewelery to bespoke bicycles, will be shown at “Homo Faber” with the aim of ‘crafting’ a more humane future by celebrating the excellence of artisans. The exhibition inspires interest in the skill of artisans that machines cannot match.
“Homo Faber is an expression that was first coined during the renaissance and it captures and celebrates the infinite creativity of human beings,” says Johann Rupert, co-founder of the Michelangelo Foundation.
According to Wikipedia, “Homo Faber (Latin for “Man the Maker”) is the concept that human beings are able to control their fate and their environment as a result of the use of tools.”
Here at Pairfum we are proud of the Artisan nature of our products, the skills used to handmake each and the spirit of the perfumer-creator in each fragrance.
Wax Candle Sculpture by Urs Fischer
The artist Urs Fischer has created a real wax candle sculpture of Dasha Zhukova and burns the candle down to the ground.
Dash Zhukova is a russian art collector and the founder of the garage museum of contemporary art in moscow.
A wick is strategically placed on top of her head and when lit, it will slowly burn down the candle. Addititional wicks have been placed all over her body to ensure a complete burn down of the sculpture (just like Pairfum’s Fragranced Candles) and to reduce it to a pile of wax drippings, over the course of almost two months.
The candle sclupture is a contemporary memento mori, to remind us all of the impermanence in life, beauty and art.
The giant candle is exhibited at the Gagosian Gallery in Davies Street in London.
If you are looking for something more practial, which will probably burn much cleaner and fragrance your room, then look no further than Pairfum’s Perfumed Candles.
Sleep and Insomnia – How to Fall Asleep with Fragrance
Our reason for writing an article on Sleep and Insomnia – How to Fall Asleep with Fragrance, came about when we were contacted recently by a number of customers and specialist groups regarding sleep deprivation, and it’s effect on our general well-being and mental health.
If you were asked to suggest a product to include in a list of the ‘Best or Most Life Changing products’, that has to suit all budgets… Would one of the first things that spring to mind be, something that helps you get a ‘Good Nights Sleep’?
One of the most important things we need to do after ‘Breathing’, ‘Hydrating’ and ‘Eating’ is ‘SLEEPING’…
Sleeping is not just some down time from our busy routine, the body and mind needs sleep to repair and heal.
So as odd as it may seem, one of the best or one of the most life changing things / gifts you could give to someone is a good night’s sleep – just ask any new parent if they agree?
Lack of sleep can make us feel physically unwell, impair concentration, and leave us feeling stressed, anxious and irritable.
Findings of recent studies also point to the fact that sleep deprivation can also contribute to heart disease, premature ageing, and is a known factor in road accidents
With our increasingly busy lives it’s estimated that we now sleep around 90 minutes less each night than we did in the 1920s.
When we see it written like this it may not seem so bad, but if we were all asked to get up an hour and a half earlier than normal every day, but still go to bed at the same time each night .. really how would we feel?
Now if you add to this the large number of people who already suffer with problems sleeping, it’s obvious that many people are now functioning in a permanently sleep-deprived state.
Some people suffer from serious sleep problems, ranging from the inability to get to sleep (insomnia) to the inability to stay awake (narcolepsy).
However thankfully many sleep problems are temporary, and there are some very basic self-help measures which will help get you back to a more normal sleeping pattern.
One of the ‘Top Tips’ that every sleep expert gives is – prepare and unwind before going to bed, we have all read that switching off all our electronic devices, is very important, but why?
Electronics such as tablets, laptops and smart phones emit artificial light that can deter and disrupt sleep. Insure that you sleep in a darkened, well ventilated and quite room, and avoid stimulating activities, such as using electronics and exercise just prior to sleep. The advise on stimulating activities just before sleep, did raise a number of eyebrows… but we are sure that we can leave that up to you to judge.
Adopting a bedtime routine can promote consistent and restful sleep.
Here at PAIRFUM London the product that we have designed/created to help people sleep is our ‘Pillow Spray’ – For A Deep Night’s Sleep ( well we didn’t create it to help them sleep at work – but if the product works that well – what more need we say).
However, when our customers come back and say – “Thank You, for the first time in months I have slept until my alarm went off”…. We love it.
So if you do have a problem nodding off to sleep at night, and would like to learn more about the PAIRFUM Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
Then why not pop over to the PAIRFUM London website to find out more… Until then Sweet Dreams x
A Boutique Hotelier’s Guide to Creating a Luxury Haven at Home
Wherever we call ‘Home’, from a Mansion to a Maisonette, we thought that – A Boutique Hotelier’s Guide to Creating a Luxury Haven at Home, is something we can all enjoy and aspire to, irrespective of the size of the house or the budget…
Luxury is something that everyone enjoys and looks forward to, having a luxury haven to return home to after a long stressful day at work, or an even longer harder day looking after your family. Will help you to feel completely relaxed, it is also sure to impress any visitors that you may have, and lets be honest we all like to ‘Look’ our best, so why not have our surroundings looking ‘Good’ too….
Fortunately, you do not always have to spend a fortune or take on huge construction projects, to add a touch of ‘Magic’ or achieve a high-end look in your home!
The following Tips were given to PAIRFUM London by the people in the know, the ‘Hotelier’s’ who’s job it is to create that Luxurious Haven in their wonderful hotels…
Here are just a few ideas or tips to use when creating or up-dating a space, which will quickly become one of your favourite areas at home. A few simple changes and upgrades that you can make when following ‘A Boutique Hotelier’s Guide to Creating a Luxury Haven at Home’. From a grand salon to a cosy sitting room.
Fragrance – well would would lead off with that wouldn’t we….. however there is a very good reason why we do..
When people think about luxury in relation to interior design, they instinctively visualise their surroundings (which is quite normal) they will usually imagine or focus on the things that they can see and touch, but scent is our oldest, and with out you realising it probably our most powerful sense, and one which we ‘Guarantee’ will and does completely change how you feel about a space.
If you don’t believe us! then just imagine walking into a beautiful house or room, which has been permeated by a disgusting aroma – no matter how beautiful it looks – no one would or could stay there unless they suffer from ‘Anosmia’ (loss of the sense of smell).
Now taking this idea a step further…..
Imagine walking into a house or a room that is not as aesthetically pleasing, the furniture may not be to your liking, it may even be mismatched and a little worn around the edges.. but there is a beautiful scented candle flickering on the mantle piece, above a welcoming cosy fire. With a large shabby, comfortable seat or sofa that has seen better days placed in front of it, where you can sit and relax. While from the kitchen comes the smell of a freshly brewed pot of coffee, freshly baked bread or the welcoming aroma of a delicious dinner being prepared…..
Of all the senses – the sense of smell is not easily fooled, it is there to protect us, it is the single sense that goes directly to the brain. So the ‘Nose knows You Know’.. So once the nose is happy with it’s surroundings, the furniture fades into the background, you feel welcome and safe, it is a place you would want to stay. So when planning or designing your surroundings, never forget that most important of factors, the ambient aroma in your home, the top Hotelier’s do not forget and place a very high importance on how their establishment welcomes you as you step through their door, or as you enter in to your bedroom or bathroom.
When ‘Scent’ is such an important part in the interior design of a home, or work space. How is it that we do not see or hear designers, discuss it with clients when watching an interior design show on T.V, or read about it in interior magazines? It could be that they have not fully grasped how important it is, or some may assume that the customer will choose their favourite smells for themselves. Be that as it may, the problem arises when they do not include or consider just how important ‘How your Home Smells’ is. When first entering a home, a building or a room, the very first thing that greets you is the aroma (whether you are aware of it or not).
Having said that not enough importance is placed on insuring that your ‘House’ or ‘Home’ smells beautiful or welcoming, one group of experts have for years encouraged their clients to use the sense smell when selling their homes … the smell of freshly baked bread or a pot of coffee to make your possible buyers – ‘Feel’ at home….
However the experts in welcoming you into their ‘Home away from Home’, the owners and managers of some of the best Hotels in the world, are fully aware of it, and use it to make you welcome and feel comfortable, relaxed and at home when you visit with them.
Lighting
Every interior designer will advise you that when used correctly, lighting can and will change a room instantly. Stylish and attractive. wall-lights, uplighters, downlighters, spotlights, table lamps, floor lighting, or a simple string of fairy lights are all perfect ways to change the atmosphere or ambience in a room. They are perfect for illuminating spaces, that are not just practical but are also stylish. Particularly if you have certain areas that you need to light up such as stairwells, offices, doorways or a reading area. It may be that you wish to highlight family photo’s or a favourite piece of artwork (especially the ones created lovingly for you, with the use of crayons)..
Another perfect form of lighting and one that has been around long before ‘Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Edison’, were even a twinkle in their Mother’s eye. The beautiful flicker of ‘Candle Light’ – a ‘Luxury Scented Natural Candle’ such as the ones found in our PAIRFUM London Collection, are a simply, easy and affordable way to change the atmosphere instantly in any room. Along with adding the soft glow of candlelight, they also bring a relaxing and enjoyable fragrance into your home, and we have a wide range of Perfumes in our collection to choose from, one to suit every home, room or taste.
Comfortable Seating
You will also want comfortable seating so that you can relax and enjoy your luxurious surroundings. What to use will depend on your choice of decorative style, your budget and the size of the room you are decorating. However the wide range of stylish sofas and beautiful armchairs that are now available, in a large range of colours, styles and price points make it easier to choose. In the age of up-cycle and re-cycle, one of the ‘Pro Tip’ we were given was “If you can not afford to treat yourself to a new sofa, settee, or couch ( whatever you choose to call it) or a set of new armchairs, then an excellent alternative is to buy or make a new set of large, comfy cushions and or a new throw in a contrasting colour, then kick off your shoes sit back and relax.
Smart Technology
There is a remarkably wide range of technology available which will transform your home, adding a real sense of luxury while bringing your home truly into the 21st century. Wireless home control systems which until recently cost a fortune, are now available for much more reasonable prices. These systems can control the lighting, temperature, entertainment devices, and most systems enable you to control all aspects of your environment, from your tablet or smartphone with ease. No doubt on your wish list may also be the latest television, high-quality stereo system and many other forms of entertainment for this space. However as with smart home technology, these items can be added as and when the budget allows it.
Decoration
Finally, we all have our own ideas of what defines our decorative style, from retro, shabby chic, minimalist, modernism or boutique. Everyone wants decorative touches that add that 5 Star elegance, luxury, class and sophistication. Artwork, personal photographs, , stylish rugs and ornaments all work well, but avoid having too much as the old adage of ‘Less is More’ also applies to interior design. Otherwise a space could feel cramped and cluttered, most people have in mind the interior of a ‘Luxury Boutique Hotel’ where they may have been lucky enough to spend some time. Or images of rooms from our favourite interior magazine or T.V. program, that we would love to recreate at home.
Whatever your style or taste, following the advice or simple tips from the top ‘Hoteliers’ that PAIRFUM London have the privilege to work with, can help create the perfect luxury haven in your own home. As we mentioned earlier it does not have to cost a fortune or involve major building work to create a relaxing and stylish space, and it can quickly become your favourite space to spend time.
If you are planning any interior or design changes to your home we would love to hear from you, and see the before an after images of the work. Please click on the PAIRFUM to contact us.
Meditation – Top 5 Ways To De-Stress
We have all been aware for some time that meditation has proven benefits for dealing with stress management, and improvement in overall health.
There are many different types of meditation that are practised worldwide, and each discipline brings with it something unique.
It would appear that everybody is doing it, and as with most things in life some forms of meditations may feel more comfortable for you than others.
However when we see how many different ways of doing meditation there are, dozens of meditation techniques, including some conflicting information.
It begs the question, is it something for you, and if so which one is best suited for you?
When deciding which form of meditation to use, the first question you should ask yourself is
‘WHY’?
Why am I doing it, and what do I want to get out of it…
If like most people, it is to find a way to de-stress, then perhaps one of the five meditations we mention below, may be for you. Perhaps it is simply taking or using some, or a combination of the techniques discussed.
1 – Mindfulness Meditation
Somewhere in our recent past (very recent past) the word ‘Mindfulness’ suddenly appeared in our everyday vernacular, but what does it really mean? Fundamentally, it is a translation of the word ‘Sati’, a word in the Pali language of ancient India in which many original Buddhist texts were written – roughly translated as ‘awareness. It is used to describe the sense of ‘Living in the Moment of Now’, or having present moment awareness. It’s practitioners claim that with practice, it can be used in any situation, and can bring lasting stress relief and health benefits.
2 – Mantra meditation
A mantra is one of the most common forms used for meditation – and believed by people who use it to be one of the most powerful ones. The practice of mantra meditation is found in many of the world’s reflective traditions, and also in the practice of meditation in a secular context. It has been proven effective as a stress relief technique. Some people may feel odd at first repeating a word aloud, or even under their breath, but for those who enjoy having a focus during practice, mantra meditation can be a perfect way to do this. It also allows you to focus on a word whose meaning resonates strongly with you, like, “Hope”, “Love”, “Peace”, “Let Go” …. it does not really matter just as long as it works for you.
3 – Metta Meditation
Knows as the ‘Loving Kindness Meditation’ – Metta is another word that comes from Pali, which means kindness, benevolence, and good will. This form of compassion meditation has been tested scientifically to demonstrate the efficacy of metta and related meditative practices. People who use this form of meditation say it’s benefits include the following – boosting one’s ability to empathise with others, it helps to develop positive emotions through compassion, which includes a more loving attitude towards oneself. Increased self-acceptance, a greater feeling of contentment about one’s life, and an increased feeling of a purpose in life
4 – Taoist Meditations
The Chinese philosophy of Daoism (which is also practised as a religion) and dates back to Lao Tzu, is the practise of living in harmony with Nature. The purpose is to quieten the mind and body, to unify the body and spirit and find inner peace. Some styles of Taoist Meditation are specifically focused on improving health and increasing longevity.
5 – The 5-Minute Meditation
Now whether you choose to try a particular form of meditation or not, in your quest to relax and de-stress. Anything that is called the ‘5 Minutes Meditation’ is worth a try … there are two main benefits to five-minute meditations – firstly, they can be effective for relieving stress quickly when you don’t have a lot of time on your hands. Secondly, well do you really need a ‘secondly’ when it takes just 5 minutes, to calm down, lower your blood pressure and think more clearly. What is the ‘5 minuet meditation’? well basically – you get yourself into a comfortable position, close your eyes and relax. Take a few deep breaths from your diaphragm, become aware of the tension in your body, and then slowly and gently release it. Try to visualise the tension leaving your body from your head to your toes, leaving in it’s place a feeling of warm, peaceful relaxation.
Don’t worry about whether you are doing it correctly or not, meditation is something we know how to do naturally, we just do not take the time to do it…
So from everyone here at PAIRFUM LONDON, we say relax ” Take time to smell the Roses” – you deserve it….
