FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Ingredients
What is the concentration of your perfumes?
Our perfumes have around 20-25% of natural aromatic materials in, we simply call them ‘perfume’ or ‘parfum’ but according to perfume standards they are considered extraits de parfum, this is why classic French flacons are the best for this concentration.
What kind of ingredients are used in your perfumes?
We use plant ingredients including essential oils, absolutes, concretes, tinctures, CO2 extracts, etc. and other naturally extracted materials as well as alcohol as a base.
The denatured alcohol we use is of cosmetic grade and is approved for use in skin care and perfumes. The safe denaturing agents (panthenol and parfum) are phthalate free and are added to prevent people from consuming alcohol as well as not to put high excise taxes on the product. Denaturants are added in tiny amounts, do not affect the quality or scent of the final product and do not contain allergens.
Is alcohol drying for skin and can it cause irritation?
Although some perfumers choose to use oils such as jojoba or fractionated coconut oil as solvents, they cannot dissolve most thick absolutes, thus their palette remains limited. Alcohol is a natural product, a classic solvent and is able to dissolve all raw materials, because perfumes are used on small areas of skin, it cannot be drying at all. After you apply your perfume, alcohol evaporates and leaves only the blend of botanical extracts on your skin, while oils, such as jojoba must be used with caution as it may stain your clothes.
Excessive or improper use of natural perfume can cause skin irritation. Always make a standard skin patch test if you have doubts.
Do you use animal products?
Most of the perfumes are vegan except those containing natural cruelty free aromatics such as ambergris, hyraceum, beeswax, etc.
Do you use sustainable ingredients?
Yes, we do not use oils which are becoming extinct such as rosewood or Indian sandalwood.
Are your perfumes 100% natural?
There is no precise definition of what is natural and what is not. Extraction methods get more complex and some fall into the so called ‘grey area’ definition, also because of an on-going dispute of what must be considered as natural if it concerns raw materials. We believe that our perfumes are 99% natural, as we use cosmetic grade alcohol approved for use in the EU, it contains tiny amounts of safe denaturants. All raw materials (oils, absolutes, extracts, etc.) are 100% of natural and plant origin.
Do you use organic ingredients?
We use mostly organic ingredients (more than 75%) but also conventional and wildcrated ones. Because perfume formulas are not disclosed, it is hard to mark those ingredients in INCI.
What makes your perfumes different from other natural fragrances?
The perfumes and their packaging are designed especially for those who are looking for more eco-friendly and vegan options but with more sublime ingredients. We use high quality natural, mostly organic raw materials. We use biodegradable seals and recycled/recyclable package filling. All perfumes are highly concentrated which makes them last much longer on your skin.
Unlike some natural perfume brands, we use a very small amount of natural isolates, to add tones only, they are not our primary palette. In our humble opinion isolates do not offer the depth and feel somewhat flat. Our essential ingredients are pure raw materials (essential oils, absolutes, CO2 extracts, etc.). Those ingredients are more difficult to work with, require more time but the result of such blends is simply amazing.
Our perfumes are much more concentrated and for the first time users may feel a bit heady but as they evolve on skin, they get soft and creamy. We have formulated our perfumes to last longer on skin (natural perfumes are a bit notorious for not lasting long enough), this also means you will need to apply much less.
Perfume Use
How long do botanical perfumes last on skin?
It all depends on the type of formula, your skin and body chemistry. For example, lighter floral fragrances will last for at least 2-5 hours, while heavier ones, those to be worn as evening perfumes, will last much longer, since their base notes are more pronounced in a perfume. Men`s skin and women`s skin differs a lot, people of dark skin will wear perfumes longer. In fact some people have more sebum production which makes perfumes last longer on their skin. It also depends on the temperature and humidity you are in. Please read the post in Journal on How to Wear Botanical Perfumes where we give more details on that. As botanical perfume longevity is a very subjective notion in general one can state that they can last for about 5 hours, for some people longer - up to 8-12 hours.
Can botanical perfumes be used by pregnant and nursing women?
We do NOT recommend using natural perfumes during lactation and pregnancy.
Can botanical perfumes cause allergies?
Yes. Although our perfumes are natural, even natural substances such as essential oils and extracts can cause skin allergies, please make a standard patch test when you get your perfume samples if your skin is prone to allergies and irritation.
It is my second time ordering the same perfume, why does it feel slightly different?
Botanicals used for essential oil distillation and other extraction methods may differ depending on the harvest season, origin and the age of the oils/extract. Although we do our best to source exactly the same ingredients from the same suppliers, it is not always possible. So it is essential to accept botanical perfumes as dynamic natural blends which may evolve and slightly vary in some batches. That is why the same perfume may smell slightly different and have a slightly different colour.
Can I use botanical perfumes on my clothes? Will they stain them?
Generally, yes, you can but dark perfumes can really stain. So, please, do not use them on delicate and light colour fabric. Instead to keep the fragrance longer, use a bit on a few areas such as your hair, temples but closer to your hair area, or scarves, etc.
Do botanical perfumes have an expiry date? How do i store natural perfumes?
In general they get better and more harmonious as they age, just like wine but only if stored properly. The best way to keep your natural perfume is in a dark cool place away from moisture, your bedroom (not bathroom) will be the best option. A perfume can be stored up to five years if not open, once it gets open, you should be even more careful, in both cases keep it away from light, warmth and humidity. But remember that perfumes are made to be enjoyed not stored for months or years.
Are your perfumes created only for women?
No. They are unisex. Wearing only floral or sweet perfumes for women is a stereotype. Natural fragrances offer a wider spectrum and more nuanced notes, so both men and women will enjoy them. As long as you like a certain fragrance, you can wear it.
Why is there a small sediment in my perfume? Is that normal?
With time natural perfumes may develop some residue, even though they are filtered thoroughly before decanting. It is normal for some natural raw materials and it will not affect the scent or its quality. It may especially happen during long shipping (if you order from the USA, Canada, Australia, etc.) and varying weather conditions and air temperatures. In any case we recommend to store perfumes in a dark, cool place away from the sun and humidity.
Sustainability
What is recycled alcohol?
I use alcohol to clean bottles before filling them with perfume and perfume making tools. The alcohol is then collected back into a bottle and filtered to be used in RedBird. So to be clear: what is left is simply pure alcohol with a small amount of aromatics, so the alcohol, as perfumers say, is fixed and loses its initial harsh alcohol smell which is a good thing. There is no dust or any kind of dirt left in it as perfume making filters are made to get a clear fragrance blend at the end.
What is ‘minimal packaging’?
Minimal packaging means the perfume is wrapped in tissue paper with a label on top. This helps reduce waste and shipping fees. Some perfumes may come with this kind of packaging before we find a lightweight sustainable alternative or it may always be shipped in that way simply because it is part of the overall ethos, for example to compensate the small amount of plastic which is part of the spray pump.
How do I recycle perfume bottles?
30ml spray bottles: please use pliers to remove the spray pump, recycle the cap+spray pump separately from the glass bottle.
8.5ml purse spray bottles: recycle and sort each part of the bottle separately (glass, plastic, aluminium).
Stoppered flacons: remove the small plastic seal off the glass stopper with pliers and recycle it separately.
We highly recommend to reuse stoppered flacons, purse sprays and sample vials by refilling from 100ml flacons.
Are perfume labels recyclable?
Labels on 30ml spray, 15ml stoppered, 100 stoppered bottles are fully recyclable and biodegradable, they are FSC certified, heavy metal free and because the bleaching process avoids the use of harmful chlorine, it is classified ECF. Labels on 1ml samples and 8.5ml spray bottles are fully recyclable.
Please remember that our stoppered bottles and purse sprays are reusable and refillable!
What do you do to address climate change and reduce your overall environmental impact?
In 2020 we are switching to zero waste perfumes, most bottles will be reusable and refillable. We are looking for a solution for perfume samples which, as we are aware, do create waste. We ship your orders using recycled/recyclable materials, we have reduced our perfume packaging to minimal, some bottles will come loose, just wrapped in recyclable tissue paper. From the beginning we have been making small batches of perfume and using the most sustainable ingredients and we intend to continue our practice.
Payment & Shipping
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes , we ship worldwide but shipping fees may differ. Make sure you check our Shipping information page.
What kind of packaging do you use?
We use 15-30ml glass flacons, paper boxes. The filling in parcels is also 100% natural in most cases but it happens we use the filling from our suppliers which is not always eco-friendly. But instead of throwing it away and making it a disposable product, we believe it is much better to re-use it as much as you can. Unfortunately not all suppliers use compostable materials. we leave a note on your box to let you know about special cases.
How do you calculate the shipment fees?
We ship with the most convenient but also affordable method, including post service and courier companies. For original perfumes we use shipping with tracking.
Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept PayPal, Apple Pay & credit cards.
How long does it take to ship if the perfume is in stock?
It takes 1-5 business days to ship your perfume.
I live out of the European Union, do I have to pay customs fees on the border?
Although in theory you must pay duties in most cases it does not happen. Most packages quickly go through the customs. But it all depends on your country.
Why are natural perfumes more expensive than conventional mass market ones?
As they are made entirely of natural raw materials, this adds a big cost. Botanical essences have fluctuating prices due to different factors (harvest, season, etc). Natural niche perfumes are made in small batches to ensure the quality of the process, thus most supplies are purchased in small amounts by perfumers. All perfumes are made by hand including blending, filtering, bottling, labelling, etc.
My Account
How do I create a wishlist to keep my favourite products?
Please create an account and put the products into your cart, it will always keep the products in even after signing out.
How can I post a review for a perfume?
Please post it as a comment under a Journal post dedicated to each perfume. Find a blog post for your perfume here (use the link ‘Learn more about the perfume’ under each fragrance).
I have a question not mentioned in FAQ, where can I get my reply?
Please use the contact page.