Fragrance is a combination of aromatic chemicals that give perfumes and colognes their distinctive smell. It can be made from oils extracted from plants and spices or synthetic aromatic compounds. Perfumes are liquid mixtures that are applied to the skin to emit a pleasant odor. Other products that contain fragrance are household cleaners, air fresheners, and body sprays. The word fragrance is also used to describe a person’s smell or the scent of someone wearing a perfume.
In the earliest times, people developed fragrant oils from aromatic plants and animals to protect themselves from disease, to beautify their bodies, and for religious and cultural reasons. Today, people use fragrances for many of the same reasons.
The perfume industry is one of the largest and oldest in the world. Its development was greatly accelerated in the 19th century with the commercial synthesis of aroma chemicals such as vanillin and coumarin. These enabled perfumers to create new scents that were previously unattainable solely from natural aromatics. Perfumes are constructed from a base, middle and top note. Each of these is a modular perfume that contains aromatic chemicals or essential oils that are blended together in a unique way.
Perfumes are generally classified into families based on the types of materials they contain. Each family has its own characteristic characteristics and is described by terms such as green, floral, woody or oriental. The individual perfumes within the same family can vary considerably.
Fragrance chemicals are evaporative substances that disperse rapidly into the air. This makes them very easy to carry and can cause problems if they are inhaled or come into contact with skin. It is important to use a safe amount of perfume and to wash away any residue that may be on the skin.
The single word “fragrance” covers dozens, often hundreds of chemicals on the labels of beauty, cleaning, and household products. These chemicals include natural and synthetic “scent” or aroma chemicals and other ingredients such as solvents, preservatives and UV-absorbers. Many of these are linked to serious health problems including cancer, reproductive toxicity and allergies.
When you wear perfume or cologne, the scent of the molecules travels up your nose and into the olfactory system in the brain where they are combined with other memories, feelings and emotions. This process of olfaction, or the sense of smell, is called acculturation. The more you smell a perfume, the more it becomes part of you and is perceived as your own personal signature.
Scentsy is committed to using the highest quality and safest fragrances possible. Our fragrance development team, consisting of expert chemists and fragrance experts, carefully selects each ingredient and makes sure it meets our rigorous safety standards. The result is Scentsy’s fragrances are among the safest on the market. Scentsy’s commitment to safety extends beyond our products to our business practices, community, and the environment. To learn more about Scentsy’s dedication to safety, click here.