FAQ

WHAT IS NATURAL PERFUMERY?

Natural perfumery is the art of creating fragrances using only natural essences derived from nature, such as essential oils, resins, absolutes, extracts, tinctures, and natural isolates, and not manufactured in a lab like synthetic perfumes. Natural perfumery may or may not include animal products such as honey, beeswax, ambergris, musk, etc. I do NOT use any animal products in my perfumes; they are plant-based, cruelty-free, and 100% natural. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATURAL PERFUMES AND SYNTHETIC PERFUMES?

There are many differences between natural perfumes and mainstream perfumes that contain synthetics. Here are the main ones:

• Natural perfumes are more subtle, gentle, and usually contained within the individual's personal space, closer to the skin. It is more about a mood created for you than a trail you leave behind, affecting everyone around you. Also, perfume oils are denser and heavier than alcohol-based perfume.

• Natural perfume oil can be more expensive because natural materials are more precious and expensive than artificial ones. For example, only 2.2 lbs of Rose oil (which I love using in my perfumes) is obtained from about 9900 pounds of freshly harvested rose petals, and it's priced at around $800 per ounce. It costs more than $1 for a single drop. For reference, to produce 2.2 lbs of Lavender oil, 440 lbs of flowers are needed. In my business, I only use top-quality botanical materials, 80-95% organic and wild-crafted.

• Synthetic perfumes contain a myriad of chemicals that can cause reactions such as a headache, nausea, allergies, and as research has shown, they can be hormone disruptors. Some people have no reactions whatsoever. I stopped wearing synthetics over 25 years ago because of headaches.

• Natural perfumery can be more limiting, and it won't recreate certain aromas, such as airy, transparent, aquatic florals, for example. 

• Natural perfumes are rich and complex, the material coming from nature. The materials in a specific natural perfume formula can change slightly because of many factors such as geographical location, different crops, harvest, methods used for extraction, climate, etc. I welcome this unpredictability as an opportunity to evolve as a perfumer and the space to create a unique perfume.

• Because natural perfume oil is 100% natural and doesn't have synthetic materials, it may not last on the skin as long as synthetic ones. It will depend on the skin type and chemistry as well as diet. On dry and fair skin, the perfume will last the shortest amount of time. If someone is used to strong perfumes that last a long time, it may take some time to get used to natural perfumes. Once that happens, one can truly appreciate the subtlety of a natural perfume. Here are some tips to make a perfume last longer - roll-on and spray:

• Moisturize your skin first with a little oil such as jojoba or a moisturizer cream. This will help to anchor the perfume.

• Don't apply only to your wrists. The back of the neck, behind the ears, chest, and inside of elbows are great points. Apply the perfume to hair, clothing (apply on your palms first, then gently strike the fabric) such as a scarf; just make sure it's not going to stain your clothes, like silk, for example. Hint: Apply closer to your nose.

• Don't rub it on the skin; dab it instead. Rubbing makes the top notes evaporate faster. 

• Layer with another natural perfume.

• Store your perfume away from heat and light (especially direct sunlight), which will cause the top notes to break down quickly. The perfume will have a longer shelf life as well.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATURAL PERFUMES AND AROMATHERAPY BLENDS, ALSO CALLED SYNERGIES?

Though Aromatherapy blends can smell pleasant, they are not perfumes. Blends are created for a therapeutic purpose using the healing properties of essential oils. Natural perfumes are much more complex and last much longer; the focus is on appreciating the scent and the sensuous olfactory experience it offers. I like to merge both worlds. All my perfumes have a therapeutic purpose, combining the healing benefits of Aromatherapy with essences chosen for their olfactory properties. While an Aromatherapy blend can usually be composed of up to 6 essential oils, a natural perfume is composed of many essences, anywhere from 5-6 to 20 or more materials. Also, the concentration of essential oils is usually higher for perfumes with a lower dilution than Aromatherapy blends.  

WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE FOR YOUR PERFUME?

12 months from purchase date, sometimes much longer, but to be on the safe side, one year. The perfumes are made in small batches to keep them fresh. 

CAN I WEAR YOUR PERFUMES IF I'M PREGNANT? 

Although many essential oils can be beneficial and safe to use during pregnancy, the concentration dilution must be kept low, a maximum of 1%. The dilution in my perfumes is higher, the final perfume being anywhere from 20 to 30%. It's best to avoid any perfume while pregnant and wait until after you stopped lactating. 

DO YOU SHIP INTERNATIONALLY?

Not at this time.

WHAT ARE YOUR SHIPPING CHARGES?

We ship USPS First Class within 5 business days after receiving payment. Please allow 3-5 business days for delivery (except to Canada). You will receive an email with a tracking number. Flat rates are as follows:

USA - $8

CAN I CANCEL AN ORDER?

Any cancellation requested before shipping will be refunded.

WHAT IS YOUR RETURN POLICY?

There are no refunds on samples (Perfume Discovery Set).

You may request a refund within 7 days of receiving the item if: 

• Item arrived broken or damaged.
• Item received is wrong.
• You have an allergic reaction.

No refunds can be requested after 7 days of receiving the item.

Instructions: Please send an email to contact@georgialima.com to cancel or request a refund with your name, telephone number, street address, order number, and details, and the reason for the request. Once the email is received, we'll contact you within 48 hours with further instructions. You have 30 days from the purchase date to send back the item. After 30 days, we can't offer any refunds. Once we receive the item, it will be inspected for approval or rejection of your refund. Once approved, a refund will be applied to the original method of payment within 7 days.