Fragrance
Orange blossom, neroli and the history of California scent, plus how to choose and wear a fragrance.
How to make perfume last longer, and why each step works
Perfume holds better on moisturized skin than on dry skin, and it often seems to fade only because your nose has stopped noticing it. The...
Is orange blossom perfume unisex? What the flower and the labels say
The same orange blossom goes into classic men's colognes and wedding florals. How neroli and orange blossom absolute differ, how perfume's gender labels have changed...
Why citrus perfume fades, and what makes one last past lunch
Orange and lemon oils are mostly limonene, one of the quickest-evaporating materials a perfumer uses. The numbers behind the fade, what a floral heart does...
How to find a rose perfume that doesn't smell old-fashioned
A rose perfume reads as dated or fresh because of the materials around the rose, not the rose itself. What powder is made of, how...
Perfume discovery sets are the smarter way to give scent
A discovery set lets the person who will wear a perfume choose it. Why that matters, what sizes sets come in, how to test one...
Eau de parfum vs eau de toilette, and which one lasts longer
Eau de parfum carries more perfume concentrate than eau de toilette and usually lasts longer. The published percentages disagree, though, and the materials in the...
Orange Blossom Perfume in Southern California: A Fragrance of the Gilded Age
In the Gilded Age, orange blossom perfume was Southern California's signature scent—sold as a fragrance postcard from hotel gift shops to Eastern travelers. OCB revives...
Limited Edition California Fragrance
A limited edition fragrance capturing the essence of California's citrus belt. Handcrafted in small batches by OCB—available while supplies last.
What orange blossom really smells like
Orange blossom can't be captured as an essential oil — so what does it really smell like? We explain the difference between neroli and true...