Aromatherapy blends:

• Have been formulated to affect mood and emotions (but some smell good enough to be perfumes). 
• Are simpler than the perfumes, containing 5-7 different essential oils.
• Contain 4-5% essential oils and extracts (depending on the blend). This is higher than the average aromatherapy application, but we’ve boosted scent according to customer expectations.
• Last approximately 1 hour on the skin. 
• Are meant to be reapplied as needed.
  
  

Perfume blends:

• Have been formulated to perfume (but may also elevate your mood). Since we scent using aromatherapy-grade essential oils, extracts and organic absolutes, you also receive aromatherapy benefits when using the perfumes.
• Are more complex than the aromatherapy blends, containing between 10 and 20 ingredients.
• Contain 12-30% essential oils, extracts and absolutes (depending on the notes).
• Last 2-5 hours on the skin (see below for more information).
• Are meant to be reapplied throughout the day.

We suggest rolling both products on pulse points, which are:

• Behind ears
• Along collar bones
• On chest
• Inside elbows
• Inside wrists
• Behind knees

You can also apply the aromatherapy blends to temples. 

Hair holds perfume oil extremely well. Try dispensing on your inner wrists/palms and applying to the bottom half of your strands.

This depends on many factors, such as:

• The notes in the blend (a perfume with more woodsy, resinous base notes will last longer than a lighter blend with more citrusy top notes).
• The amount you apply.
• The thickness and oiliness of your skin (thicker, oilier skin tend to hold scent longer than thin, dry skin).
• Your climate (my perfume seems to last longer when I’m on the coast versus when I’m at home in the high desert).
• The age of your product. Our perfumes and aromatherapy oils will last a year or more, but we suggest using them up within 6 months, as fresher blends tend to last longer on the skin. Aged blends don’t go “bad,” but they do lose their potency over time.

We formulate all the blends to have consistently timed dry-downs, but several factors, including body chemistry, play a role in the blends’ longevity. Try to use up your blend within 6 months of receiving and moisturize (i.e. with unscented lotion or oil) before applying perfume to help anchor the scent.

Botanical perfumes are fleeting by nature. They don’t contain the chemical fragrance extenders found in synthetic perfumes. We see this as a benefit and find reapplying natural perfumes throughout the day a lovely ritual.

Natural botanical perfumes are beautifully complex but more subtle than synthetic perfumes. 

Also, roll-on perfumes with an oil or jojoba base (such as ours) have a lower sillage (scent trail) than spray perfumes. They simply don’t emanate as far from the body as sprays do, and the jojoba tends to anchor or weigh down the top notes. Although we compensate with a higher percentage of top notes, the fact remains that these types of perfumes are more personal, in that they are detectable to only you and those you invite into your personal space. 

We love perfumer Sophie Labbé’s explanation: "A quiet sillage is a fragrance for yourself, for your well-being. It's not to make people approach; it's just for you." For this reason, natural perfume roll-ons are perfect for the office environment, or anywhere synthetic fragrances are unwelcome.

This depends on how often you apply. A 0.33 oz/10 ml bottle could last from 3 months to a year or more. 

We’re currently experimenting with organic grape alcohol spray perfumes and are finding that we’re going through the sprays much more quickly than the roll-ons. So, we think it’s safe to say that our roll-ons are going to last longer than a spray perfume of the same size. 

By the way, please email us at hello@pressandstill.com if you are interested in botanical alcohol spray perfumes.

Aromatherapy and perfumes:

We suggest using the products within 6 months to a year for maximum freshness, scent strength and aromatherapy benefits. Older blends don’t go bad, but they do lose their potency and benefits over time.

Teas:

We suggest using up within 6 months to a year for maximum freshness and benefits.

Essential oils and extracts are heat and light sensitive, which is why (in part) we package our products in dark amber glass bottles. We don’t recommend that you keep your blends in the fridge, because the jojoba base, which is similar to wax, will solidify and render your roll-ons unusable for a while. But you can extend their life by keeping them out of bathroom and away from direct heat and light. 

Fun fact: rose oil is best stored below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Before we had a fully temperature-controlled lab, we stored our essential oils in a wine fridge. This isn’t feasible for most people, but you can certainly do your botanical perfumes and aromatherapy blends a favor by keeping them out of the heat.

The 0.33 oz/10 ml glass bottles are safe and small enough to travel in your carry-on luggage (following TSA procedures). The roll-ons are not leak proof, but we rigorously tested many roller bottles over the course of a year and found that most bottles didn’t leak. Those that did had flown, so we think that pressure may have been the cause. We highly recommend storing your roll-ons in a plastic bag for air travel. 

Roll-ons can develop a slow leak around the seal between the rollerball housing and bottle. The rollerball housing is made of plastic and can break down over time from constant exposure to essential oils, especially those (like spices) with more aggressive constituents. If your roll-on is slowly leaking, this could be a sign that you need to use up your bottle and purchase a fresh one! However, if you would like a new rollerball, please contact us at hello@pressandstill.com.

Yes! Stay tuned for our perfume quiz to help determine which of our blends is right for you, based on your scent preferences. In the meantime, you can email us at hello@pressandstill.com for guidance.

We don’t currently offer custom blending. However, we’re open to exploring this option. Given our process and expenses, we expect it would be a 6-week process for which we’d charge $350. Please email hello@pressandstill.com if you are interested.

We don’t currently offer perfume making parties or workshops, but we’ve received many requests. It’s under consideration. Please email us at hello@pressandstill.com if you'd like express your interest.

The jojoba carrier oil should not stain; however, a few of the darker colored essential oils and extracts may stain. If you get a light-colored blend on your clothes, it should come out in the laundry with hot water and a natural detergent like Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds. Synthetics should be pre-treated.