Fragrance is the mixture of chemicals that give each perfume or cologne its unique scent. The chemicals can be natural or synthetic, and they can be derived from either petroleum or organic raw materials such as flowers. A variety of other ingredients also go into fragrances, including solvents, stabilizers, UV-absorbers and preservatives. More than 5,000 different chemicals in countless combinations are used to produce fragrances. Some of these chemicals may cause allergic reactions or are linked to hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic effects.
Historically, many of the fragrances in perfumes and colognes were made from natural products such as essential oils and botanical extracts. But since the late 19th century the commercial synthesis of aroma compounds has allowed perfumers to create a wide range of scents using synthetic materials. Today, over 95% of the fragrances in the world are synthetic and contain a wide array of chemicals that have been linked to allergies and health problems.
Perfumes and colognes usually have an oil component that has been diluted with another substance, such as alcohol or liquid waxes. The resulting mixture is applied to the skin, where it diffuses into the air and leaves behind a trail of scent that can last up to 24 hours after application. Perfumes and colognes can be a combination of a number of different ingredients, and there is often much debate over what should go into them. The odor of a person’s skin can change the way a perfume smells on that individual, and this is why perfumers often use paper blotters (french: mouillettes) to test how their creations will appear and smell to others.
Most modern perfumes include at least some synthesized odorants, because they can provide scents that are not available from natural sources. For example, a synthetic compound called calone is commonly used to create the fresh, ozonous marine aroma that was once achieved by using extracts from orchids. Other historic natural fragrance ingredients such as musk oil, amber, and vanillin are no longer used in perfumes, often due to environmental and safety concerns.
There is a close relationship between the sense of smell and the sense of taste. This is why food manufacturers sometimes add a small amount of fragrance to a product. The fragrance doesn’t affect the flavor, but it can alter how a person perceives the product.
Some people wear perfume because they enjoy the scent or find it enhances their appearance and self-confidence, while others choose to avoid it because of health and ethical concerns. However, a recent study has shown that pleasant fragrances can increase feelings of self-esteem and happiness. It has also been found that a pleasant smell can lower anxiety and stress levels. It may even improve a person’s ability to tolerate pain, through the activation of opioid receptors in the brain. These benefits make the risk/benefit analysis of perfume use a complex one.