The invention of perfumery dates back to 1221 in Florence, Italy. Its precursor was Hungarian scented oil, produced by the behest of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary. In Renaissance Italy, perfumery flourished under Rene the Florentine, the personal perfumer of Catherine de’ Medici. Rene’s laboratory was connected to Catherine’s apartments. He took his refined Italian perfumes to France. By the early 19th century, perfumeries had expanded into large stores.
The fragrance of perfumes is often undetectable until thirty minutes after application. The scent of perfumes is attributed to the dry-down period that occurs during the application process. Perfumes with a base note contain ingredients such as cedarwood, sandalwood, oakmoss, and patchouli. Some perfumes are known to affect the brain through opioid pathways and improve mood. However, the effects of perfume on the body are not as clear.
There are five main families of perfumes: Floral, Oriental, Woody, and Aromatic Fougere. Modern oceanic fragrances are similar to aquatic fragrances. Fragrances are classified by dominant odours. Floral perfumes contain jasmine, rose, and carnation. Woody fragrances are made of cedarwood, sandalwood, and oak moss. This is a guide to the classification of perfumes.
The largest source of natural fragrances are flowers. Some of these include several species of rose and jasmine, as well as tuberose, narcissus, cassie, and ambrette. Other common sources of natural fragrances include the blossoms of citrus trees, ylang-ylang, and other species. Other sources of natural scents are the unopened flower buds. Although not traditionally considered as flowers, many orchids are not used commercially. In order to produce essential oils, the vanilla orchid must be transformed into a seed pod.
Fragrances vary in their concentration of essential oils and synthetic aromatic compounds. A high concentration of essential oils is called parfum, and the highest quality, most expensive types of perfume are composed of 20-30% fragrance. The more expensive fragrance oils are, the higher the concentration of essential oils. Moreover, alcohol perfumes contain less alcohol, which means they have less chance of irritation to the skin. The concentration of perfume oils in alcohol products varies significantly. The higher the concentration, the higher the price.
There are three basic types of perfume. Plant-based perfumes contain mainly essential oils and are similar to oils from flowers. Animal-based perfumes have a softer, floral aroma, while plant-based ones are more powerful. Perfumes are composed of fragrance oils, and the scent produced by them varies significantly from one type to the next. Whether it is a fruity scent or a complex, sophisticated fragrance, perfume is always created with the right balance of these oils.
A wide variety of perfumes are used in household products. A perfume contains hundreds of ingredients and varies in its chemical makeup. The smell of a product is often a crucial factor in the consumer’s decision to purchase it. These fragrances have the added advantage of making a product smell good. They can also help clean surfaces. A common use of perfume in household items is as an air freshener. Some cleansers are made to smell nicer and more pleasant than the chemical ingredients they contain.