Perfume is a combination of different chemicals that combine to create the scent of a person’s personal olfactory signature. The use of perfume dates back to ancient Egyptian times, where scented oils were used to clean the skin and mask body odor. Today, it is believed that perfume can have a strong psychological impact on people by boosting moods, keeping them alert, and providing a sense of calmness. In addition, a link has been established between pleasant scents and improved memory.
Modern perfumes are a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients that form a complex blend of aroma compounds. The first step in making perfume is extracting a scented oil from plants, fruits and other sources of fragrance. These oils are then mixed with other raw materials such as alcohol and talc. A typical perfume can contain from ten to hundreds of ingredients. The process of creating a perfume is an art that requires both technical precision and artistic creativity.
Traditionally, the art of perfumery was practiced by expert perfumers, known as noses. The process of developing a new perfume could take years, as the different components needed to make a perfect blend had to be carefully selected and blended together. It has been compared to music, where different notes are combined into a composition that evokes a specific emotional response.
The earliest perfumes were made from a variety of natural, often quite strange, substances. These included musk (from musk deer glands), hedione (from a combination of sea water and shellfish), hyraceum (petrified Hyrax feces) and ambergris (whale vomit). Today, we rely on a wide range of chemical compounds that mimic the scents of flowers, herbs, woods and other natural ingredients.
Fragrance can be classified based on its dominant fragrance, such as floral, fruity or woody. It can also be categorized by its intensity, with higher-concentration perfumes being referred to as parfum and lower-concentrations as eau de parfum, eau de toilette and eau de cologne. In general, people choose a perfume that matches their personality, reflects their mood and can help them feel more confident or energetic. It has also been found that certain fragrances can be matched to different social situations and even enhance performance during a job interview or romantic encounter.
In a study published in 2003, it was found that the type of perfume women chose depended on how they saw themselves: those who viewed themselves as elegant and sophisticated would opt for a more delicate floral fragrance while those who see themselves as dramatic or energetic might prefer stronger, more masculine scents. In the seventeenth century, it was even suggested that perfume choice should be influenced by social class, with French aristocrats opting for a light, elegant perfume while English bourgeoises went for something a bit more robust and earthy.
Perfume is an important part of a woman’s personal olfactory signature. But what causes a perfume to smell different throughout the day? The answer has to do with how the various notes of a perfume interact with your own body’s chemistry. Scents evaporate over time, causing the top, middle and base notes of a perfume to shift.