A perfume is a concentrated combination of natural aromatic plant extracts and synthetic aromatic chemicals that combine to create a pleasant fragrance. It’s used on the skin, often as a personal cologne or to enhance the scent of other fragrances, and can range from tens to hundreds of ingredients. Perfume can be a great confidence booster for some, as well as a sign of individuality for others, and it has been linked to increased self-esteem, mood enhancement, and a reduction in anxiety and stress.
The process of creating a perfume involves many different steps including collecting and extracting perfume oils, blending, aging and quality control. It’s not unlike the production of fine wine, and there are many techniques and combinations that have been used by ancient civilizations to make fragrant oils.
Perfumes start by combining scented oils extracted from natural sources such as flowers, trees, fruits, and woods. They can also include animal secretions, such as the castor oil of beavers; musk from male deer; and ambergris from the body of sperm whales. Other resources like coal, tars, and resins can also be added to the mix.
These ingredients are then combined to form a fragrance, which is then diluted with alcohol and water to achieve the desired strength and cost of the product. This is a complex process, as the proportion of perfume oils to alcohol affects the scent. For example, a highly concentrated perfume will contain fewer essential oils than a lighter perfume.
Once the perfume concentrate has been mixed together, it is aged for several months to a year. This is a time in which the perfume is kept undisturbed and in a dark area, which allows it to bond with the alcohol. It’s a crucial step in the perfume creation, because it determines how long the scent lasts on the skin and how strong or subtle the perfume is.
Once a perfume is ready for sale, it’s recommended to test the perfume on the wrist before purchasing. A blotter strip will allow you to see how it interacts with the skin, which is important because your own chemistry can alter the way a perfume smells. When testing a perfume, don’t rub the blotter strip; rubbing can cause it to mix with your own scent and change how the fragrance is perceived. It’s also a good idea to wear the perfume in your own environment for a few days before making a decision on whether or not you want to purchase it.