frequent questions

Searching for brands, products, …

I'm looking for a specific brand or one of its products

If you know the brand of the product you are looking for, go to the "BRANDS" tab and select the type of product you are looking for (Fragrances, Cosmetics or Home Fragrances). Then select the brand and then the product you're looking for to have more information.

I'm looking for a category of products (Bestsellers, seasonal products, ranged by olfactive family, etc.)

If you're looking for a category of products, go to the "Boutique" tab and select the category you are interested in (Perfume, Cosmetic or Home). You will find the Bestellers on top, then our products organized seasonaly and finaly by olfactive family. At the bottom of the page, under "Search in the Boutique" you can refine your search results by combining different criteria (brand, gender, product category, olfactive family and season).

About Perfumery....

What is the difference between Selective Perfumery and Niche Perfumery?

Niche Perfumery usually has a smaller scale of distribution and is very much creator oriented, with original and hard-to-find raw materials. It doesn't mean that Selective Perfumery doesn't have the same standard in quality or is less expensive. They are simply each driven by different commercial prerogatives.

Top/Middle/Base Notes

Fragrances are made of different scents called "notes". They are divided into three categories accroding to their volatility: Top (head) notes, Middle notes and Base notes. The top notes are the most volatile, they only stay on the skin for a few minutes. They are often citrus, spices and aromatic notes. Middle notes appear right after the top notes and are often floral. The base notes are the least volatile and the last to be registered. They can stay on the skin for a few hours and even a few days on clothes. They can contain, among other things, woody and powdery notes or accords.

Olfactory... Family history

Fragrances are classified into 7 olfactive families according to the notes that compose it.

FLORAL: They have a large quantity of floral notes both as Top and Middle notes. They can be sometimes combined with fruity notes. Fragrances built around a single flower are called Soliflores.
CITRUS: Hesperide fragrances; i.e. High citrus concentration. They can be combined with floral and/or spicy notes. This is the case for most Colognes.
ORIENTAL: Oriental fragrances contain warmer notes like patchouli, vanilla, amber, musk and woodsy notes. They are often combined with floral middle notes.
FLORIENTAL: A floral oriental contains floral top notes combined with vanilla, Tonka beans, sandalwood and/or musk. Unlike oriental fragrances they do not contain any patchouli.
CHYPRE: Built around an accord made primarily of Patchouli, bergamot, oak moss, Chypre fragrances can also contain green or spicy notes. But they do not contain any vanilla unlike oriental fragrances.
FOUGERE: Fragrances in this category are often more masculine. It will contain lavender, oak moss and/or Tonka beans notes. It can also include other aromatic notes (mint, thyme, rosemary, etc.).
WOODY : Woodsy fragrances contain a large quantity of woodsy base notes, such as cedar, vetiver, sandalwood... It does not contain any patchouli.

Is there alcohol in all perfumes?

Not necessarily. Perfumes are mixed in a specific base that can be made of water, alcohol, wax, lotion, etc. Alcohol is a common base because of its neutrality, it allows the perfume to quickly spread while it evaporates.

Cologne, Eau de toilette, Eau de parfum, Extrait… what is the difference?

The distinction is the concentration of perfume extract: the higher the concentration, the more expensive it will be and the less perfume you will need to wear. So from the highest concentration to the smallest : Perfume (or Perfume extract) over 20% concentration in essential oils, Eau de parfum (10-20%), Eau de toilette (8-10%) and Eau de Cologne (less than 8% of essential oils). Some brands use the term "Cologne" for commercial purposes when their product are actually Eau de toilette.

Rather Spray or Splash?

There is no difference between what's inside a bottle of Spray or of Splash. You only put it on differently. You need to see if you prefer to put on Perfume directly from a bottle (splash), or if you'd rather spritz it (spray). With the sprays the top/middle/base notes appear more distinctly.

Where to put on Perfume?

Our advice is to put on perfume on the warmer body zones, and where the skin is the thinnest. You can put some on the inside of your wrist, behind your ears, on the back of the neck, etc. You can also put some perfume on your clothes or your hair by spritzing from afar. Try to avoid the back of the hand and don't rub your wrists after putting on the perfume!

More is more?

You want to leave a trail of your scent when you walk down the street ? To make your perfume stay, put on some odourless lotion, or the lotion scented with your fragrance before putting on the perfume. Hydrated skin will keep the perfume molecules longer. If you can't smell your perfume anymore during the day, it doesn't mean other people can't, maybe your nose has simply gotten used to it..

Where and how to keep it?

Some say you can keep an unopened bottle of perfume for years. What is certain is that the longer you keep a perfume the weaker the top notes will become. If it is opened, you should use it within a year. In any cases, to keep it the longest, keep it away from light, humidity and heat.

Raw materials: Natural Vs Synthetic

By definition, natural molecules are of chemical nature. There are often negative connotations linked to using synthetic raw material. But despite the prejudice, a perfume containing synthetic raw material is not of inferior quality than a natural one, quite the opposite. Almost all perfume contain them. Some natural material are restricted by european and world regulations. Synthetics are the best way to reproduce a scent close to these materials. The lily of the valley for example, this note cannot technically be extracted from the flower. Other materials, like musk, ambergris or civet are restricted because of their animal origin.

Do coffee beans really allow you to "neutralise" the sense of smell ?

When you smell several different perfumes, you sometimes can't distinguish the different notes anymore : your nose is saturated. Smelling a few coffee beans between each fragrance "neutralises" your sense of smell.

About home fragrances and other products for the house

What are the different categories of wax ?

There are three types of wax : Animal, vegetable and mineral. Beeswax is an animal wax. Very expensive, it is considered a high-end wax. When it burns it produces neither smoke nor soot and leaves behind a sweet and undertoned scent. Paraffin wax is mineral. It is a refining by-product from petroleum, it is what most candles are made of today. It allows the candle to burn at a low temperature. Finaly vegetable wax can be made from soja, palm, rice or Copra. All natural, they burn and keep well.

What is the difference between coton and wooden candle wick ?

Wooden wicks make a slight crackling sound when burning, reminiscent of a fireplace. They burn just as slowly than coton wicks, if not slower. Just as with coton you can cut them to maintain them.

How to properly use the candle ?

To enjoy all the benefis of your candle, follow this advice :

Let it burn until the surface is liquid.
Don't let it burn for more than three hours at a time for the first third of the candle. Then for one to two hours at a time.
Don't hesitate to reposition the wick when the wax is hot. Regularly cut the wick so that it is never longer than 6 milimeters (just under one quarter of an inch). You will prevent it from emanating smoke. Keep it away from draughts and far from curtains. Put it preferably on top of somehing (plate, tray, etc...)

How to use wooden sticks (for ex. Linari products) ?

Some room fragrances diffusers use wooden sticks. This diffusing technique is called "capilla", since it works through capillary action: the fragrance gets diffused as it slowly runs up the wooden stick.

How long can a candle or diffuser (for ex. Linari) last ?

Different factors are to be taken into acount for how long a candle can burn. Its height, the quality of the wax and the wick. Here are the average time by candle size :

small (70g): about 30 hours
medium (190g): 50 to 60 hours
big (300g): 70 to 90 hours
very big (+1500g): + 150 hours.

As for diffusers, they can last for about 6 months. It can be longer under specific atmospheric conditions. Low humidity, low pressure and/or high temperature can decrease the rate of evaporation. You can also stop the diffusing process by removing the sticks and puting the lid back on the bottle.

About Cosmetics

How to determine your skin type ?

There are four skin types, ranged according to sebum secretion : dry, combination, normal, oily. Here are some information to help you setermine your skin type :

- dry skin : you may experience a feeling of "stretchiness" and it reacts quickly to aggressions. It is poorly hydrated and is more prone to early wrinkles.

- combination and normal skin : Normal skin is usually smooth and uniform. They have small pores and are neither too dry nor too oily. When the sebum secretion is higher around your t-zone (forehead-nose-chin), then you have combination skin.

- oily skin : The Sebum secretion is higher and gives a shiny aspect to the skin, especially around the t-zone. It can also contribute to acne and dilated pores.

What is a face serum? What is the difference with a moisterizer?

A face serum is a treatment. It is more highly concentrated and more liquid than a moisturizer. Its texture helps the serum penetrate the skin more rapidely and deeply. It is normally used as a ponctual 28 days treatment (the average time for cell turnover) and should be applied directly on the skin before moisturizing.

In which order should facial skin care be applied?

To take care of your skin, you need to apply your skincare products in a specific order:

- Cleanse: In the morning, start with a good cleanser for your face. There are different types: lotions or cleansing water, gel or mousse.

- Tone up: You can put on a lotion to tone up or purify your skin after cleansing it.

- Moisturize: There are several products to chose from to moisturize. Serum, for exemple, more concentrated than face cream, can be applied alone or before your day cream. You can also put on an eye cream.

At night use a make-up remover on your face and around your eyes to clear all the impurities accumulated during the day. You can use a lotion or a water. Then cleanse and tone-up as you do in the morning. Then to moisturize apply your serum and/or your night cream and if you wish to, your eye cream.

Should my night cream be different from my day cream?

You skin has different needs during the day or night. That is why we advise you to use a different cream at night. During the day, your skin needs protection from outside aggressions. Nightime is when your skin regenerates. Night creams help with cell turnover.

I register and do my diagnostic

Why create a profile?

In order to run your diagnostic You need to create a profile. The information you put in (age, gender, country) will help your establish your olfactory diagnosis. Moreover, your profile allows you to access all your information is shared and when to our website you visit our Paris store, 20 rue Located Bachaumont.

How do I create my profile?

To create your NOSE profile, go at the top of the homepage and on "Launch the diagnosis", or on the man icon at the top right of the same page. Choose between registration by email address or via Facebook. You may then fill in your profile and preferences. Once completed, you will be able to access your diagnosis (favorite notes and families) and visualize your recommendations.

The diagnostic… how much will it cost?

It's free ! To get your diagnostic, you will only have to create a NOSE account and give us your personal information and your preferences. Once you have discovered your diagnosis, you will be able to order your sample kit (with the 5 recommended samples) for 10 euros (exclusing the delivery and export fees). The 10 euros will be refunded with your next purchase.

How does the NOSE diagnostic tool work?

You want a change of perfume and you are looking for a new one? Our NOSE diagnostic tool will help you in 4 simple steps:

My diagnostic : create a profile and tell us about your olfactive preferences
My recommendations : thanks to your diagnostic, we will suggest 5 perfumes. You will be able to give them a try by ordering samples for each.
My evaluations: Once you've ordered and received the samples, you will able to grade them: -5 (I don't like it), 0(neutral), +5 (I love it). You can also come to our store to try them directly.
My favorites : The products who obtain the best grades will appear in this section.

For legal purposes, we are obliged to inform you that under no circumstances are the creations proposed to you by Nose equivalent to those that you referenced.

My personal data are precious to me!

NOSE pledges to keep your data private and confidential and not to pass them on to any third party for commercial purposes without your authorization. For more information you can consult our Privacy policy.

How many times can I run my diagnostic?

You can do it as many times as you wish. Your recommendations will only be changed if your information or evaluations are modified. Every time you try and grade recommended perfumes that you ordered or tried in our store, new suggestions will appear refined to your taste thanks to your input. Another reason to come by the store!

I manage my account

How do I access my NOSE account?

If you already have a user account, click on the man icon at the top right of the homepage. You will then be able to connect via Facebook or by email, by entering your username and password.

Can I change my personal information?

You can, at any time, change your personal information. To do so, click on the man icon at the right top of the website , then edit your data in "My Account" and "My Profile".

Oops, I've forgotten my password...

You have forgotten your password? Click on the man icon at the right top of the website , tick "change password", fill in the current password and the new one, then click on Save.

My order and basket

Trying before buying?

You can give a perfume a try by ordering a sample. It is important, once you get it, to take your time to try it, in order to fully appreciate how it develops over a few hours. Perfumes are often not given enough time, causing disappointments and missed chances. Perfumes have different top, middle and base notes that evolve over minutes and hours (see the olfactive pyramid). That is why it is important to try it on your skin and to pay attention to its evolution. Important: we would like to notify that NOSE keeps the right to cancel any abusive order of samples of a same perfume (ex. any order of more than 2 samples of the same perfume and/or any orders above 15 samples).

I would like to buy a product online…

To order online, sign in to your NOSE account. When you have found the product you wish to buy, add it to your shopping cart. Click on "Go to cart" if you want to finish your order. You can also click on "Make another purchase".

Do I have to run a diagnostic in order to make a purchase?

You can place an order without a NOSE account. You will still need to register with your e-mail and password. You can then easily place an order and run your diagnostic at a later time by signing in.

I have changed my mind, can I cancel the order ?

To prevent you any unnecessary steps, check what you've put in your cart and the total amount of your order before confirming it. Once it has been confirmed we will be unable to cancel it and you will have to wait to receive the products to exchange or return them, according to the Terms and Conditions of Sales.

What is in my shopping cart?

You can at any moment check what is in your cart by clicking on the "My cart" button, on the top right corner of the page. The number between brackets is the number of items in your cart. When accessing your cart you will also be able to delete products and modify the quantity you're ordering.

Payment

Is the payment secure ?

You can safely pay for your purchases on the NOSE website, thanks to our secure payment tool. At the time of payment you will be redirected to the secure BNP Paribas server. NOSE also uses the SSL encryption system to securely transmit your personal data. Payments are additionally secured through the Verified by Visa, COMODO Authentic Site, et MasterCard Secure Code systems. After you've completed the order, you will receive an e-mail, confirming the billing address you've registered is the same as the one linked to your credit card.

Cash, Credit Card or Visa ?

NOSE takes Visa, MasterCard and AMEX but not personal checks. NOSE also accepts payments by PayPal from 80 € TTC of purchase.

Shipping & follow-up

Shipping modes

You have the choice between the following shipping modes:

Pickup: at the store located at 20, rue Bachaumont - 75002 Paris
DHL: express shipping according to the deadlines indicated in the delivery methods
Colissimo: standard delay with acknowledgment of receipt

You can check the shipping methods and the delivery delays by country (with prices and minima for free delivery) on the Shipping Methods page.

For the Colissimo service, given the constraints related to the product category (fragrances are considered a dangerous good because of alcohol), NOSE is obliged to ship only to the countries covered by La Poste’s road transport.

For the store pick-up, the service is free and the delay is at your convenience, during the store’s opening hours.

Returns & refunds

To know more about returns and refunds, please consult Terms and Conditions of Sales, section 6 Right to and period of withdrawal.