Finding Your Signature Scent: A Guide To Fragrances

Aromas have been used for thousands of years for their physical and psychological benefits. Aromatherapy, a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts, is one such example. To truly understand and appreciate an aroma, it is important to go beyond simply sniffing it from its bottle. Fragrance testing strips, for instance, allow you to assess the aroma over time as it changes and different notes are released. This is also true when assessing the aroma of beer, where the use of a glass and specific techniques can help identify the top, middle, and base notes.

Using fragrance testing strips

To find a scent that flatters you, it is recommended to use fragrance testing strips, also known as blotter strips, to get a more accurate representation of the smell and how it wafts. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use them:

Prepare your workspace

Ensure you are testing in an area free from other odours to avoid interference with your fragrance. If you are testing multiple fragrances, use a separate strip for each one. It is also a good idea to label each strip with the fragrance name to keep track.

Bend the tip of the strip

Before dipping, bend the tip of the strip to prevent any mess on your work surface. The bend will also keep the end laden with fragrance up in the air when you put it back down.

Dip the strip into the bottle

Dip the bent end of the strip into the bottle, being careful not to dip too far to avoid a mess. For testing blends, you can dip multiple strips and bring them together while evaluating.

Allow the strip to dry

Let the strip dry for a few seconds before smelling. This will allow the fragrance to develop and give you a more accurate impression of the scent.

Smell the strip

Hold the strip about an inch away from your nose and take a short whiff. You can also fan the strip in front of your nose to experience the full range of the fragrance.

By following these steps, you can effectively use fragrance testing strips to explore and evaluate different scents to find the one that flatters you the most.

Inhalation techniques

Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. It is thought of as both an art and a science and can be administered through inhalation, massage, baths, and topical applications.

Inhalation is one of the simplest ways to use aromatherapy. It can be done directly from a tissue, cotton ball, bottle, or palm, or through steam inhalation or an inhaler tube.

• Direct Inhalation from Tissue or Cotton Ball: Hold a tissue or cotton ball with a few drops of essential oil in the palm of your hand and take a few deep breaths through your nose.
• Direct Inhalation from Bottle: Add a few drops of your chosen essential oil blend to a small bottle. Cap and shake the bottle, then uncapping and wafting it gently under your nose. Inhale deeply once or twice, or sniff gently as needed.
• Direct Palm Inhalation: Place the essential oil blend directly onto the palm of your hand and inhale. This technique is great for acute emotional distress as it encourages relaxation and calmness. Only gentle essential oils such as lavender should be used for this method.
• Steam Inhalation: Fill a bowl with boiling water and add up to 6 drops of essential oil for adults (2-3 drops for children). Place the bowl on a table, cover your head with a towel, lean over the bowl, and breathe through your nose, keeping your eyes closed. Discontinue if irritation occurs. Steam inhalation is particularly useful for colds, flu, sinus infections, congestion, asthma, and bronchitis. Suggested essential oils for adults include blue gum eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon, and thyme ct. linalool. For children, suggested oils include rosalina, lemon, and sweet orange.
• Inhaler Tubes: Inhaler tubes are a portable, discreet, and easy-to-use method. Add up to 20 drops of your chosen essential oil blend to a small glass beaker. Place the cotton insert/pad from the inhaler tube in the beaker to soak up the blend. Carefully remove the cotton insert/pad and insert it into the inhaler tube. Secure the bottom fitting and cap. Uncap and take a few deep breaths or small sniffs when needed. Inhaler tubes can be used for respiratory problems, emotional issues, panic attacks, anxiety, shock, grief, and colds.

It is important to note that aromatherapy should be used with caution, especially for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and individuals with certain medical conditions or taking prescription medications. Always do a skin patch test before using essential oils, and dilute them with a carrier oil when applying directly to the skin.

Glassware for optimal aroma capture

Glassware plays a significant role in optimising the aroma capture of a drink. The shape of the glass can influence the release of certain volatiles, which are compounds that evaporate from the drink to create its aroma. Here are some insights into choosing the right glassware for optimal aroma capture:

Beer Glassware

The type of beer glass used can greatly enhance the drinking experience. Here are some common beer glasses and the beers they pair well with:

• Tulip or Thistle Glass: Perfect for stronger, aromatic brews like double IPAs and Belgian ales. The tulip shape enhances flavours and aromas, with the outward-curving rim helping to trap and emphasise the head.
• Weizen Glass: Designed for wheat beers such as Weizenbocks, Kristallweizens, or wheat ales. The tall and curvaceous shape complements the unique characteristics of wheat beers, with the curved lip trapping the head and capturing its aroma.
• Snifter Glass: Although usually used for cognac or brandy, snifter glasses are also excellent for big, aromatic beers. The tapered top traps and enhances volatiles, while the stem prevents the beer from warming too quickly.
• Stange Glass: Ideal for delicate beers like Kolsch, lambic, gueuze, or rye. This tall and slender glass, similar to a Tom Collins glass, showcases the carbonation and aroma of nuanced beers.
• Flute Glass: While typically used for champagne, flute glasses are also suitable for fruit beers, krieks, biere de Champagne, and Belgian lambics. The long, narrow shape highlights carbonation and colour while allowing a strong aroma to escape.
• Pint Glass: A versatile option that works for a wide range of beers, including American ales, lagers, IPAs, and pilsners. The wide mouth allows for easy sipping and showcases the beer's colour and clarity.

Wine Glassware

Wine glasses are designed to enhance the wine-drinking experience, and the right glass can make a difference. Some key wine glasses include:

• Wine Glass: The classic wine glass with a wide bowl and a stem is perfect for capturing the aromas of strong ales. The tapered mouth helps to capture and enhance volatiles, and the volume provides room to swirl and agitate the drink, releasing more aromas.
• Champagne Flute: The tall, narrow shape of a champagne flute ensures that carbonation is retained and showcases the lively colour. It also releases volatiles quickly, resulting in a more intense upfront aroma.

Spirit Glassware

When it comes to spirits, the right glassware can elevate the experience. Some spirit glasses that enhance the aroma include:

• Brandy Snifter: The shape of a brandy snifter, with its wide bowl and tapered mouth, captures and intensifies the aroma of the spirit.
• Aroma Enhancing Spirits Glass: There are specific glasses designed to enhance the aroma of spirits, such as the NEAT Glass, the Glencairn Whiskey Glass, and the Bormioli Rocco Riserva Grappa and Cordial Glass.

Beer aroma techniques

When it comes to beer, aroma is an important aspect of the drinking experience. The following are some techniques to assess and enhance the aroma of beer:

Glassware

The first step in assessing beer aroma is to pour it into a suitable glass. The glass should be shaped inwards to capture the aromas while being wide enough to allow you to stick your nose inside and fully appreciate the beer's bouquet. Examples of good tasting glasses include the Teku, which has a lovely bowl shape that opens up the flavours and aromas of the beer, and stemmed glasses, such as wine glasses, which are easy to swirl.

Aroma Techniques

There are several techniques you can use to evaluate the aroma of your beer:

• Distant Sniff or Drive-By: Hold your glass about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) from your nose, swirl it, and take one to two short sniffs. This technique is ideal for more volatile aromas, including compounds that dissipate quickly or those that are very powerful.
• Short Sniffs: Put your nose in the glass and take several short, sharp sniffs to get the next layer of aroma.
• Long Sniff: Swirl the glass and take a long, deep sniff for about 2 seconds to increase the intensity of the aromas.
• Covered Sniff: If you're having trouble detecting an aroma, try covering the glass with your hand while swirling it for 3-5 seconds. This warms the beer and concentrates the aromas. Then, uncover the glass and take one or two short sniffs to detect the deeper notes.

Aroma Sources in Beer

The aroma of beer comes from various sources, including hops, malts, and fermentation. Hops add tropical fruit, citrus, pine, resinous, earthy, marmalade, or perfumy notes, depending on their origin. Malt has a wide range of aromas, from caramel and biscuit to toffee and chocolate. Fermentation can add jammy notes, esters (fruity notes), and phenols (spicy notes).

Enhancing Aroma

To enhance the aroma of your beer, consider the following methods:

• Flameout Additions: After boiling the wort and before chilling, add ingredients such as fruit peels, honey, or spices. The high temperature helps break down and disperse these flavours without releasing much aroma before fermentation.
• Dry-Hopping: Add hops directly to the fermenter after primary fermentation to impart strong hop flavours, commonly used for IPAs.
• Cold-Crashing: Lower the temperature of the fermented beer before carbonation to make the beer clearer. During this stage, add fruit extracts made with real fruits to deliver authentic fruit flavours and a touch of sweetness.

Aroma sources

Aromas can be sourced from natural substances, such as essential oils, and from man-made products, such as aroma beads.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are plant extracts, derived from flowers, herbs, and trees. They are used in aromatherapy, which is a holistic healing treatment that promotes health and well-being. Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years, with ancient cultures in China, India, and Egypt incorporating aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils for medical and religious purposes.

Aroma Beads

Aroma beads are small beads that can be infused with fragrance oils to create a strong scent. The amount of fragrance oil added can vary from 4% to 30% of the weight of the beads, depending on the desired scent intensity. These beads can be used to make air fresheners, which can provide a long-lasting scent of up to 45 days.

Other Sources

Aromas can also be experienced through various other sources, such as candles, incense, perfumes, and even food and beverages. For example, when tasting beer, the aroma plays a significant role in the overall flavour perception. The shape of the glass used for beer tasting can also influence the perception of the aroma, with glasses that taper inwards helping to capture and intensify the beer's aromatic notes.

Frequently asked questions