Perfume is an olfactory experience. The best perfumes can be compared to great works of art, creating complex and beautiful impressions that transcend their simple chemical composition. The greatest perfumes can evoke the emotions and memories of their creators.
The scent of perfume is a very personal and individual choice that reflects who we are. In addition to a desire to smell good, many people choose to wear fragrance for health and well-being reasons such as reducing stress, feeling more energized or improving mood. Perfume can also have a social or cultural meaning depending on the occasion and setting in which it is worn.
A person’s unique skin chemistry and the raw materials used to create perfume are what causes a fragrance to evolve throughout the day. This is because of the interaction between a perfume’s “Top, Middle and Base Notes”. The top notes are the first scents you notice when applying a perfume. They consist of small light molecules that have high volatility and evaporate quickly and are usually a mixture of citrus, light fruits, or herbs. Middle notes are the heart of a perfume and emerge after the top notes have dissipated. They are the more prominent scents and tend to be more herbal or floral with a slightly sweet smell. Finally, the base notes are the longest lasting and consist of a combination of wood, amber and musk.
The first step in choosing a perfume is to consider the occasion or environment for which it will be worn. Many people choose to use different fragrances for different occasions, with some deciding to have a signature scent and others selecting a fragrance that matches their personality or mood. Perfume is also a very personal choice, with most consumers preferring certain smells over others. In addition, some individuals may be sensitive to particular fragrances and will need to carefully consider the ingredients in a perfume before purchasing it.
Fragrance sensitivity is common and can be caused by an allergic reaction to one or more of the ingredients in a perfume. Individuals with sensitivities are recommended to try a small sample of the perfume before buying it in order to avoid an allergic reaction. If an allergic reaction does occur, it is important to avoid contact with the affected area immediately and seek medical attention as necessary.
Some of the earliest perfumes contained a wide variety of natural, often very gross, ingredients including musk (from musk deer glands), ambergris (whale vomit) and hyraceum (petrified hyrax feces). Today’s modern synthetic perfumes were invented in the early 19th century as scientists developed new methods of organic synthesis. While perfume is now largely created in laboratories using a wide range of chemicals, the process has not lost any of its intrigue or creativity. Perfumes are still a pleasure to wear and can be as much of an olfactory experience as any other art form.