Frequently asked questions

Where can I try Liminus perfume?

• If you're in Hobart, Tasmania I have some wonderful stockists who carry my oil four seasons range.  They're all lovely stores to visit and you can find their details here.  If you'd like to get your nose on my signature scents, a discovery set is an excellent option and includes a voucher to use on a future purchase.

Will you be at any Hobart markets?

• I do pop up at markets and other places from time to time. I've listed upcoming market bookings here. It's also a good idea to follow along on Instagram for other scented happenings and events...there's a link at the bottom of this page.
  

How big is Liminus?

• Liminus is wonderfully small.  Just me (Hilary) for now.  My perfume is VERY personal and hands on.  You can find out more about why I make perfume here.

What is natural perfume?

• Natural perfume is made entirely from ingredients derived from nature: essential oils, absolutes, resins, tinctures and botanical extracts. Unlike most perfume, it does not contain synthetic fragrance molecules. Each scent I make reflects the complexity, nuance and variability of the natural world.

What's the difference between natural perfume and synthetic? 

• Most perfumes sold are a mix of natural and synthetic materials (or all synthetic).  Well known, luxury fragrance formulas might include 95% aroma chemicals with a small percentage of naturals. Many niche and artisan fragrance houses use a higher proportion of naturals.  Some, like Liminus, are 100% natural.  Liminus uses botanical materials including essential oils, absolutes and tincture to formulate Tasmanian perfumes.

Is natural perfume better? 

• Like many things, the answer is not simple. There are so many different factors to consider. Using synthetic materials allows a perfumer to produce effects that cannot be achieved with naturals alone (often more power and longevity).  Synthetics are usually much cheaper and don't vary in composition depending on season and place.  
• Natural materials are more complex and can express a sense of place or terroir that a synthetic cannot.  Some essential oils are known to have a therapeutic effect on the body and mind.
• Humans tend to be drawn to natural products and Liminus chooses botanical perfumery materials to support personal connections to nature. 
• Natural materials can be difficult to standardise, also natural fragrances tend not to last as long on skin as their synthetic counterparts.  Natural scents often stay much closer on the body and are not as loud and diffusive as a scent with synthetics.  I personally love this more subtle experience.
• Another issue with natural materials is cost, they are substantially more expensive.  For example a natural jasmine absolute costs around 

Do natural perfumes last as long?

• Natural perfume generally has a shorter wear time than synthetic perfume. However, this is not a bad thing...in the same way you might change clothes during the day for different events or cooler weather, you can reapply or switch perfume if you wish.  Personally I don't enjoy scents that stick around for days.  I've given an indication of wear time on my product pages - but longevity will vary a little depending on how much you apply, weather and also your skin.

To extend wear:
- Apply to well-moisturised skin
- Apply to pulse points
- Reapply or layer your scent

Will the scent change on my skin?

• Yes — and that’s part of the beauty. Natural perfume interacts with each person’s skin chemistry, meaning the same scent can smell slightly different from one wearer to another. Your environment, temperature and even the season can subtly influence how a perfume develops.  You will also smell different facets of the scent during the 'dry down' as the perfume moves through top, middle and base notes.

Are natural perfumes safe for sensitive skin?

• Natural perfumes are often chosen by people seeking alternatives to fragrances that may have caused irritation or headaches...but sensitivity can still occur.  It's wise to:

- Patch test before regular use
- Always avoid application to broken or irritated skin
- Consult a healthcare professional if you have known sensitivities, if you’re pregnant or have allergies.

Does natural perfume vary between batches?

• Because natural ingredients vary with harvest, climate and season, no two batches are ever perfectly identical. This is a hallmark of natural perfumery and part of what makes each bottle unique, like wine or olive oil.

Is natural perfume vegan and cruelty-free?

• Many natural perfumes are vegan and cruelty-free, but not all botanical ingredients are vegan by default. (For example, beeswax or animal-derived tinctures are used by some perfumers.)
• At Liminus, we prioritise transparency and ethical sourcing and currently all our products are vegan and cruelty free.

Are perfume, scent & fragrance different things?

• Nope! They are all interchangeable words to describe the wonderful world of smell, and the scents we can apply. The word perfume comes from the Latin ‘per fumum’ which means through smoke. It originates from times when scented smoke from wood and resin were used in ritual.

Why do I love some perfumes and not others?

• We all have smell preferences, our response is based partly on our personalities and partly on life experiences. A note of jasmine, could be wonderfully to you - reminding you of a favourite holiday... It may be repellant to someone else if it reminds them of a jasmine growing outside a window while they were ill.
• We all have ‘olfactory memories’, which are unique to us: our life experiences stored in scent memory. 
• Choosing a perfume is a bit like finding your favourite music, author or style of clothes... you need to try a few things to see what you like.  Get curious and smell as much as you can.

How many perfumes should I try at a time?

• Two is a good number – one on each wrist.  You may want to record which scent is on which wrist, it's surprising how hard it can be to remember a few hours later... 
• If you can, try the perfume in different ways - cold days vs warm, on skin and on clothing, in different moods or settings.  Perfumes are worth playing with and trying more than once.

Can I tell how a perfume will smell on me from a scent strip? 

• It's a good indicator - but skin is always best. Paper blotters, or scent strips are a good way to tell if you like a perfume’s initial impression. If you’re buying for yourself it's ideal to see how the notes unfold on you as the perfume interacts with your body chemistry.

What is the difference between Parfum, Eau de parfum, Eau de toilette, Aftershave and Cologne?   

• These descriptions are a guide to the concentration of a fragrance. They aren't fixed rules, but conventions generally followed by brands in labelling perfume.
  
  • Parfum – 15-25 %
  • Eau de parfum (EDP) – 8-15%
  • Eau de toilette (EDT) – 5-8%
  • Cologne (EDC) – 3-5%
  • Aftershave/ Eau fraiche – 1-3%

How should I store my natural perfume?

• To preserve the integrity and longevity of your perfume:
  - Store it away from direct sunlight
  - Keep in a cool, stable environment
  - Ensure the cap is tightly closed

Is Liminus for men or women?

• Liminus perfumes are for everyone (especially creative and curious souls). I think perfume is inherently gender-neutral...just like wine & cheese it's guided by memory, personal taste and emotion. 
• That said, my scents are very gender neutral when compared with traditional marketing categories.  Alba is a possible exception, it's a complex floral and tends to be worn by more women than men.