HELOISE: Essential oils make scents differ

Dear Readers: What about cologne, eau de toilette or perfume — what’s the difference? Essential oils. Essential oils are defined as the extracts from plants and flowers that give off fragrance and are used in making perfumes, colognes, eau de parfum and eau de toilette.

Perfume is at the top of the list when it comes to concentration of oil to alcohol and staying power. And that is why it is the costliest form of fragrance. Next in order is eau de parfum, eau de toilette, then cologne.

How to store it? In a cool, dark place. Perfume should last about a year, or longer. In high-heat areas, the refrigerator is a good place to keep it. If you notice the fragrance getting dark, thick or cloudy, it may be spoiled, but give it the smell test!

And what about getting the last little bit out of a spray bottle? Tilt the bottle so the stem can reach the remaining product. If there is still some left, you can try a vise grip or pliers to remove the sprayer. It may take some effort, but we got one off in our office and had enough for a few more applications.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Coffee filters are wonderful for a multitude of things:

They are great to use when a shoe needs to be polished.

Use as a filter if a tea bag breaks.

Place an afternoon snack in one.

Use to keep a taco contained.

They can be drip control for an ice-cream treat.

Kerry in Washington, D.C.

Dear Heloise: For many years, I hated to swallow large pills and capsules. They often “stuck” in my throat. I sometimes had to massage the outside of my throat with my fingers to dislodge them and get them down.

My difficulty ended three months ago when I bought supplements, only to find out the pills were enormous. Could I swallow them? I leaned my head back and swallowed them without a problem. Every day for the past three months, I’ve swallowed many pills/capsules without a problem — I just look up.

A Reader in Sugar Land, Texas

Open the throat to help those go down. Be sure to drink some water first and after taking a pill to help it on its way.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: To keep steel-wool pads longer, when in use put them in aluminum foil. They will last much longer.

Maria Beaumont in Oakville, Conn.

King Features Syndicate