Perfume is an essential for some people; it can brighten their mood, make them feel confident, or influence how they want to be perceived. It may seem like a luxury item, but it is often very affordable for those who choose to use it regularly. Many celebrities, fashion designers and other prominent people can be seen wearing or promoting perfume.
Aside from a few natural ingredients, most perfumes are made of synthetic chemicals. These chemicals can be used to recreate naturally occurring scents, or they can create original fragrances that are not found in nature. Some perfumes also contain animal products, such as castor from beavers, musk from male deer or ambergris from the sperm whale, in addition to plant materials like leaves, flowers, fruits, woods, roots, resins, balsams and mosses. They can also contain fixatives, which are compounds that enable the perfume to evaporate slower and emit odors for longer periods of time.
Once the materials are selected, they are carefully blended according to a formula that has been predetermined by a master in the perfume industry, or “nose.” The perfumer must know how each ingredient will interact with the others; for example, certain citrus oils tend to react with other fragrances to produce a chemical reaction called oxidation that can alter the overall scent of a perfume. In addition, the scent will smell differently on each person’s skin, due to the individual’s unique chemistry.
The resulting blend is usually divided into three structural parts: the top, middle and base notes. The top notes are the first impression that a person receives upon application of a perfume. They consist of small light molecules that evaporate quickly. Top notes commonly include herbs (sage and lavender), citruses and light fruit (lemon and orange).
Middle notes are the heart of a perfume, creating depth and body. They generally consist of a mixture of the head and top notes with additional oils, extracts or distillates. Common middle notes include ylang-ylang, rose, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley. Woods, like sandalwood and cedar are a vital part of the base notes. They can be either raw or dry distilled, but they are also commonly included in macerations or infusions. Ambergris, a form of oxidized fatty compounds secreted and expelled by the sperm whale, is another component of the base note.
Despite being an important accessory for many people, perfume is not considered a necessary product by most. Instead, it is a personal choice that some people make to enhance their sense of self-worth and to improve the quality of life for themselves and those around them. For those who do choose to wear perfume, the right fragrance can be a perfect finishing touch for an outfit, a special occasion or even just everyday wear. By understanding how perfume is created, one can better appreciate the fragrances that they select to wear.