Perfume is a popular gift for any occasion. It is a special way to thank a friend, sister, aunt, mother or grandmother for being so wonderful to you. However, perfume is much more than just a pretty bottle and some spritzes of scent. It is a special blend of chemicals that are activated by the wearer’s body heat and envelop their skin with a unique combination of scents.
People have been using perfume for thousands of years. In fact, some of the earliest perfumes were made from a variety of natural ingredients, some quite unpleasant (think musk, derived from the glands of a Musk deer, and ambergris, which is distilled from the intestines of a whale). Our modern perfumes are primarily created in the laboratory using a vast variety of synthetic chemicals.
A perfume’s fragrance is usually broken down into three parts by the nose: The first smells to hit you are called top notes, and they fade quickly. The heart of the perfume is formed by middle notes, which appear after the top notes have dissipated, but before the base notes have developed. The base notes, which are the longest-lasting, consist of a wide range of compounds that can be found in many plants.
These perfumes are made by combining several different aromatic chemicals and distilling them to create a concentrated liquid. This process is called fractional distillation. The perfumer then mixes the fractional distillate with a fixative like alcohol or another oil, which slows the deterioration of the perfume and helps it last longer on the skin.
After the perfume has been mixed and bottled, it is labeled with a number that indicates its concentration. A lower concentration is referred to as an Eau de Toilette, while a higher concentration is an Eau de Parfum. Perfume can also be classified as either masculine or feminine, depending on the scent’s intensity and its ingredients. Perfumes marketed as “Pour Homme” or “Pour Femme” are usually classified as more intense, with heavier base notes and stronger top and middle notes.
The chemistry of perfume is complex and fascinating. In the 9th century, an Arab chemist wrote the Book of Perfume, which gave hundreds of recipes for perfume and describes how to make various perfume-making chemicals. The art of perfume making flourished during the Renaissance in Europe. In the 16th century, Catherine de Medici’s personal perfumer brought refinements from Italy to France.
Many women feel that they need a special touch of perfume to feel their best. Whether it is to impress the man of their dreams, to attract the attention of a coworker or just to feel confident in their own skin, a little bit of perfume can go a long way. However, as with any cosmetic, it is important to use a perfume that is appropriate for the time of day and that works well with your individual skin chemistry. The perception of a perfume can change over time, as the wearer develops preferences and experiences memories associated with that particular scent.