The journal

Fragrance, explained plainly

How to choose a scent, how to make it last through a Highveld summer, and what the words on the bottle actually mean. Written by the people who blend it.

Latest

How to choose a fragrance as a gift without getting it wrong

Buying fragrance for somebody else is guesswork unless you know what to look at. How to read the bottles they already own, which questions actually help, the mistakes that go wrong most often, and the safe way out when you are unsure.

23 September 2026 gift guide how to gift vouchers

What does 'inspired by' actually mean in fragrance?

An honest account of what an inspired-by fragrance is, how the industry that makes them actually works, what you can reasonably expect from one, and where the line sits between describing a scent and pretending to be somebody else's product.

9 September 2026 inspired by how we work fragrance basics

How to read a fragrance note pyramid

Top, heart and base are not three different smells in one bottle. They are one fragrance revealing itself at the speed its materials evaporate. Once you understand that, product pages stop being a list of words and start being useful.

24 August 2026 fragrance basics how to notes

A perfume gift guide for under R500

What R500 buys in fragrance, once you stop paying for the advertising and the heavy glass. Eight ideas at real prices, from a single bottle to a small collection, plus the safest option when you genuinely do not know what they like.

9 August 2026 gift guide gift vouchers buying guide

The best men's fragrances for a South African summer

Heat changes how a fragrance behaves, and a scent that suits a Highveld December is not the one that suits a humid evening in Durban. What works in our summer, what to leave for winter, and eight places to start.

24 July 2026 mens fragrance summer buying guide

Eau de parfum vs eau de toilette: what the difference actually means

The words on a fragrance bottle describe how much perfume oil is in the alcohol, and very little else. Here is what each concentration means for strength, how long it lasts, what it costs, and which one is worth your money.

6 July 2026 fragrance basics how to eau de parfum

How to make your perfume last longer

If your fragrance disappears by mid-morning, the bottle is usually not the problem. Skin type, moisturiser, where you spray and how you store it make more difference than most people expect, and all of it is easy to fix.

22 June 2026 how to fragrance care longevity

Best affordable alternatives to Chanel No.5 in South Africa

No.5 is a difficult fragrance to stand in for and an easy one to overspend on. Here is what it actually smells like, what your realistic options are in South Africa at each price, and how to judge any alternative honestly before you part with money.

31 May 2026 chanel inspired by buying guide