Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We each have our own unique body chemistry and when the perfume interacts with our skin a unique fragrance is created. Both diet and hydration of the skin can also have an effect on the scent.

Warmth activates perfume. It should therefore ideally be worn on the pulse points. However, perfume can be worn anywhere, for instance in the hair, on clothes or on the nape of the neck.

Al Shmoukh company perfumes are 30% perfume concentration or above, meaning they are all classified as pure perfume. If applied correctly, pure perfume should last for at least 12 hours. If your skin is hydrated it can last longer, +24 hours. Perfume will also last longer when sprayed on clothing in particular cotton.

To achieve the character and optimal quality of each perfumes, we use the highest percentage of perfume oil required. Wherever possible we use the absolute – the highest concentration possible of a perfume. Our perfumes range from 30 % to 100% perfume concentration

Our ingredients are sourced from around the world and we choose only ingredients of the very highest quality and purity.

Store your perfumes in a cool, dark place away from humidity and direct sunlight with the cap on. Some of our perfumes are presented in a case, which is perfect for storing your fragrance. Some clients suggest keeping the perfumes in the refrigerator during Summer to keep them fresh.

Alcohol is used as a carrier for the different ingredients in the perfume (most ingredients are oils and won’t mix with water). Without alcohol, these oils are also more likely to evaporate from the skin quickly.

The Absolutes contain very small quantities of alcohol which are used to ensure the fragrance ingredients can work well with each other. The alcohol is not used as a carrier for the perfume as is the case in an Eau de Parfum.

We do not test our products on animals.

Whilst natural ingredients are used wherever possible, some of nature’s most beautiful flowers cannot be tamed for extraction. One flower that has always eluded extraction is Lily of the Valley. The petals are too delicate for perfumers to be able to extract oil, therefore a clever synthetic ingredient was created to capture the exquisite scent. Synthetics have also been formulated to create aromas that cannot be obtained from nature. For example, Cashmeran, which has a soft, woody aroma, was developed to evoke the smooth, softness of cashmere wool.

The only animal derivatives we use are Beeswax Absolute and Hyraceum Absolute (fossilized particles from the Rock Hyrax). All musks, ambergris, civet and castoreum that we use are synthetic equivalents, recreating the perfume without the use of animal-derived materials.

The fragrance wheel is a method for perfume classification, organizing perfumes into families. Perfumes are classified into a particular family based on their ingredients and overall character. A perfume that falls into the floral family may be built around a single flower or combined bouquets that have a femininity and bloom to them. The wheel can be useful in determining preferences, as many people are drawn to perfumes of a particular family.