Expert Guide to Finding a Fragrance That Works With Your pH
Navigating the world of fragrance is part art, part science. From luxury houses to niche artisan brands, each perfume carries layers of complexity, designed to interact uniquely with the wearer’s skin and lifestyle. To help demystify this process, I consulted with several master perfumers, to provide an expert-led guide to choosing fragrances as individual as you are.
Understanding Fragrance Concentrations
Richard Herpin, master perfumer and collaborator on House of Dastan, reflections: “Perfume is storytelling. The same composition can tell a completely different story depending on the wearer’s chemistry, environment, and even mood. Approaching fragrance selection thoughtfully transforms it from a product into an extension of personal expression.”
Before exploring individual perfumes, it’s crucial to understand fragrance strengths, which dictate longevity, sillage and the way notes unfold on the skin:
- Eau de Toilette (EDT): 5–15% aromatic compounds. Light, fresh, ideal for daywear or warmer climates. Typically lasts 3–5 hours.
- Eau de Parfum (EDP): 15–20%. Richer, longer-lasting; perfect for evening wear or occasions where you want the scent to evolve over hours. Typically lasts 5–8 hours.
- Extrait de Parfum: 20–40%. The most concentrated form; a small dab on pulse points offers an intense, lasting signature. Can last 8–12+ hours depending on skin chemistry.
- Higher concentrations usually have stronger sillage (how far the scent projects) and longer longevity, but the same fragrance may smell different depending on skin type, pH and body chemistry.
- EDTs are often lighter and more volatile, so top notes dominate initially, while EDPs and Extraits let heart and base notes develop more fully.
Testing the right concentration ensures the perfume works with your lifestyle and body chemistry.
Fragrance Application Tips
Pulse Points: Wrists, sides of neck, chest, behind ears — these areas emit heat, helping the fragrance develop fully.
Movement Points: Back of knees, inside elbows — applying to these spots allows scent to diffuse naturally with your body movement.
Hydration: Moisturized skin improves fragrance longevity, ensuring notes last longer and evolve smoothly.
Layering: Combine EDTs and EDPs carefully to build depth and complexity, enhancing both projection and staying power.
House of Dastan – Game of Joy
Concentration: Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Notes: Top: Timur Pepper, Cardamom, Elemi, Pear; Mid: Incense, Violet Leaves, Passion Fruit, Mango, Watermelon, Orcanox; Base: Cashmere Wood, Musks, Cypriol, Tonka Bean, Cistus Absolu, Sandalwood, Patchouli
Expert Tip: Let fragrance interact with skin 30–60 min for full complexity; top notes evolve differently depending on body pH.
House of Dastan – You?
Concentration: Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Notes: Bergamot, Pear, Cinnamon, Coriander, Seed Jasmine, Milk, Fig, White Chocolate, Freesia, Ylang Musks, Sandalwood, Tonka, Cedar
Expert Tip: Ideal for warm or cozy evenings; rich gourmand-woody profile.
