Fragrance, also known as perfume, scent, and redolence is an odor that smells good to the human nose. A fragrance can be anything from pine perfume to a flowery scent. It can be sweet or sour and even pungent. It may have a natural smell or be made artificially.
Fragrances are used in a variety of personal care products. They are added to perfumes, soaps, lotions, and hair products. Many fragrances are synthetic, although essential oils are sometimes used. Some fragrance ingredients are dangerous to health and the environment. Fragrance chemicals are thought to cause hormone-disrupting effects, respiratory problems, and allergies. They can also contribute to ozone pollution and create fine particulates that can lead to asthma attacks.
The word “fragrance” is derived from Middle French perfume, which means fragrant oil. The original fragrance was extracted from flowers, spices, or other plant materials. Later, it was discovered that certain chemicals from a few plants and animals could make a pleasing odor when combined with the right mixture of other materials. These mixtures were called perfumes and, eventually, the term perfume was shortened to simply fragrance.
Today, there are many different kinds of fragrances used in perfumes and colognes. The odor of a perfume comes from the combination of aroma compounds and diluents (solvents) in the liquid preparation that is applied to the skin. These components are often referred to as the “DNA” of a perfume. The concentration of this DNA varies in different perfumes, from Eau Fraiche to Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and perfume.
The odor molecules of fragrances are emitted over a long period of time. They leave a trail of a lingering odor on the skin and in the air, which is called sillage. The sillage lasts for about six to eight hours. Perfumes are the strongest of all fragrances, with the highest concentration of scent.
Perfumes have the advantage of lasting longer than colognes and toilettes. This is because they contain a higher percentage of diluents, which are the ingredients that carry and hold the odor molecules in a liquid form. They are usually dilutable with a solvent such as ethanol, but other types of aliphatic alcohols can be used.
Unlike foods and drugs, fragrances do not need to go through the FDA before being approved for use. This allows the fragrance industry to preserve its secret formulas. However, the FDA is working to require disclosure of fragrance ingredients and to limit some of their harmful effects. Some of the ingredients in fragrances are already being banned by some states, such as phthalates and phenols. They are also being replaced by other ingredients, such as natural extracts and essential oils, which are less harmful to people and the environment. The International Fragrance Association and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials set fragrance ingredient standards. However, these regulations do not apply to all countries. Fragrance ingredients still need to be carefully reviewed for safety and environmental impact.