About perfume

Perfume? Eau de Toilette? Cologne? What’s the difference?

There are many different types of fragrance, but they all have one thing in common: they’re made up of scented oils in a solvent. The main thing that sets them apart is the concentration of those oils. Stronger concentrations mean the scent will last longer, but usually leads to the fragrance being more expensive as well.

What are perfume ‘notes’?

In a fragrance, individual scents are referred to as ‘notes’. For example, a perfume might be made up of vanilla, sandalwood and jasmine, creating a scent with notes of those three ingredients.

Notes are usually separated into three categories. The top or headnotes are the first to develop when you put the perfume on, and tend to be lighter, fresher scents. The heart, body or middle notes develop after about ten minutes and tend to be floral. Finally, the base notes develop. These help to increase the overall staying power of the perfume and last for the longest. There aren’t as many options to choose from for base notes, so they tend to be based around sandalwood, vanilla, musk or similar scents.

How long does perfume smell for?

On average, perfume (as opposed to other fragrances like cologne, which don’t last as long) will remain on the skin for between four and eight hours. However, it all depends on the type of fragrance, the skin of the wearer and the scents the perfume features. Oily skin holds fragrance better than dry skin, for example, while stronger notes like woods or leather will hang around longer than fresher, lighter scents.

What’s a ‘seasonal scent’, and do I need one?

Some fragrances are marketed as being more suitable for certain times of the year. Warmer weather can make certain scents seem more intense, to the point of being overpowering, so summer perfumes tend to be fresh and lighter. In the autumn and winter, warmer scents like spices and woods tend to take charge. However, there are no hard rules, and it depends a lot on the personal preference of the wearer.

What is a ‘fragrance family’?

The vast majority of scents can be sorted into families – for example, jasmine and rose are floral scents, while cedar and sandalwood belong to the wood family – but these have blurred somewhat as different manufacturers create new perfumes. For example, many floral scents have been mixed with the spicy, warm, woody notes of oriental fragrances to create the ‘floriental’ family.

Are natural ingredients better than synthetic?

In short, no. There are very few perfumes that are made up of 100 per cent natural ingredients, simply because many synthetic ingredients last much longer on the skin. In addition, there are some scents – like violet – that cannot be made naturally, or ingredients made from animal products that are synthesised to aid with conservation efforts.

Is perfume for men or women?

It’s for both! While many think that perfume and eau de parfum are intended for women and cologne is intended for men, in truth, there’s nothing stopping anyone from wearing whatever fragrance suits them best. Fragrances can be marketed towards men or women, or sold as unisex perfumes. In fact, it’s only in the last 150 years that a distinction has been made between masculine and feminine scents.

About WMS

Who are Wolds Manufacturing?

Good question! We are a contract manufacturer with over 30 years of combined experience in the personal care and cosmetics industries. Our aim is to be a world-class provider of the highest quality fine fragrance products. We excel in our dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness and individual pride.

Why should I use a contract manufacturer?

There are more than a few benefits to opting for a contract manufacturer, the most obvious of which is that you can create a product without needing to build your own manufacturing facilities. This is particularly true if you need specialised equipment to produce your fragrance. You’re also able to benefit from the manufacturers’ expertise in creating similar products.

How do I choose a contract manufacturing partner?

You need to decide what aspects of the manufacturer are most important to you. For example, would you rather have a partner that is reliable, has a lower price point, or has the clearest expertise in your field? By prioritising your list of requirements, you should be able to find a manufacturer that fits the bill.

Is Wolds Manufacturing the right size for my business?

Our manufacturing services are very scalable with 5 production lines and a dedicated vial filling line. We offer hand finishing services for intricate decoration requirements, whilst maintaining the flexibility to scale production. Please note that we do have a minimum order quantity of 2,000 for core products and 5,000 for samples and vials.

How quick is your turnaround?

All contracts are meticulously planned and scheduled into production and timings will be agreed at the planning stages, as always, we understand time frames and commitments can shift and we are always at hand to help deliver even with the tightest of deadlines.

How do I know Wolds Manufacturing will do high-quality work?

Between us, we have over 40 years of experience in this industry. We pride ourselves on doing an excellent job, every time, and if you don’t believe us then you can read testimonials from our happy clients here. We are also ISO registered.

What does ISO registered mean?

Our ISO standard (ISO 22716) reflects the meticulous standards we maintain throughout the entire process, from goods in to the dispatched product.

ISO 22716:2007 is the international standard for good manufacturing practices (GMP) for cosmetics. The guidelines for the standard has been approved and accepted by many global regulatory bodies, such as the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).

Are you members of any trade bodies or associations?

We are members of BCMPA and The Fragrance Foundation UK.

Find out more about BCMPA here.
Find out more about The Fragrance Foundation UK here.

Can you help my products stay compliant?

Absolutely. We provide full regulatory compliance support as standard with our complete client service, so we’ll make sure your product is in accordance with all relevant laws. You can find out more by heading to our compliance page.

More info

Are there minimum order quantities?

Yes. For sample vials, we require a minimum order of 5,000. For core products, we require a minimum order quantity of 2,000 per fragrance. However, in some instances, order quantities for core products are negotiable, so please do get in touch.

How can I get in touch with Wolds Manufacturing?

You can call us on 01507 656002 or email info@woldsmanufacturing.co.uk