The English word perfume comes from the Latin per fumum, meaning “through smoke,” referring to ancient incense.

The scented trail perfume leaves behind is called sillage, which is French for “wake.”

The famous Chanel No. 5 has been extremely popular since 1921.

Famed for jasmine and rosa centifolia, Grasse, France, is considered the perfume capital of the world.

Ancient Egyptians used oils and incense as a prototype perfume thousands of years ago, known as kyphi.

The first modern perfume, Fougère Royale (1882), was notable for relying on a synthetic compound.

Due to differences in skin chemistry and environmental factors, the same perfume can smell different on two people.

Perfumes last longest when stored in cool, dark, and dry conditions—steamy bathrooms and sunlit shelves shorten their lifespan.

Citrus-based perfumes typically fade faster than most other scents.

There is no American standard to establish an official expiration date for perfume.