What Is Fragrance?

Fragrance is a combination of chemicals that gives perfumes, colognes, and other scented cosmetic products their unique smell. A fragrance can contain natural essential oils or synthetic aromatic compounds, and may also include solvents, stabilizers, UV absorbers, and preservatives. Some of these chemicals are toxic, and exposure to some can lead to dermatitis or allergies. Despite these risks, manufacturers aren’t required to list the ingredients in their perfume mixtures on product labels.

A scent is a complex mix of chemical components skillfully assembled by a perfumer to mimic a particular plant, animal, or mineral. Perfumes are made to be worn and absorbed through the skin, and their scent can leave a trail behind that lasts for a while afterward. Perfumes are usually diluted, and their oil concentrations are described using terms like extrait, EdP, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette (EdT), and Eau de Cologne (EdC).

The different types of perfumes have loosely defined levels of perfume concentrates, from the highest-concentration ‘parfum’ to the least-concentrated ‘cologne’. These perfume concentrations are often referred to as the pyramid of olfactory intensity, with the top, middle, and base notes of the perfume. The higher the perfume concentration, the stronger and longer-lasting its olfactory intensity.

Most perfumes are created from a blend of at least five different raw materials. These ingredients can be extracted from plants, animals, or synthetically from a variety of precursor chemicals. The olfactory intensity of the finished perfume depends on the complexity of its raw materials and the technique used for extraction.

For example, a perfumer might use a process called maceration to soak the perfume raw material in carrier oils, which serve as solvents and capture heavier, larger plant molecules. Alternatively, the perfumer might try enfleurage, in which plant material is drawn into a fat or oil base and then extracted with alcohol. These methods can take months or years to complete, depending on the complexity of the perfume’s composition and the quality of the raw materials.

After the perfumer has a rough draft of their new fragrance, they present it to the company for feedback. The perfumer can then smooth out the concept and refine the formula based on the response. A perfumer might even change the fragrance’s name at this stage if they decide to.

Developing a great fragrance is as much art as it is science, and there are many creative decisions to make along the way. Scentsy’s Fragrance Development Team are the experts that guide this process, helping ideas for scents become the next generation of beloved Scentsy products.

Creating the perfect fragrance is a complex, time-consuming process. The final product may require months or even years of blending and testing before it is ready to be sold. And even the most well-made fragrance will be refined over time, with the perfumer adding more of certain ingredients or reducing others to achieve the desired balance. The resulting perfume is then aged to allow the components to fully mature together.