Overdose
In perfumery, an overdose means using a material unusually prominently. Learn how this creative term differs from concentration, overspraying and performance.
Updated
In a perfume description, an overdose usually means a material is used at an unusually high level for the intended effect. The result may make that material a central theme or noticeably change the balance of the composition.
This is creative language rather than a standard percentage or a declaration of unsafe use. It should not be confused with how much perfume a wearer applies. A prominent material in the concentrate can still be diluted in the finished fragrance.
A large proportion also does not guarantee a loud fragrance. Different materials have different odor impact, so prominence in a formula and projection in wear are separate questions.
- Dose in a formula
- The proportion of an ingredient used by the perfumer.
- Fragrance concentrate
- The aromatic blend before it is incorporated into a finished wearable formula.
- Finished concentration
- The proportion of aromatic blend in the finished preparation; a separate figure from an ingredient’s share of that blend.
- Overspraying
- Applying more finished perfume than suits the wearer or setting. This is an application judgment, not a formula term.
- Beast mode
- Informal language for strong performance. It does not prove that a particular ingredient was used in an overdose.