A perfume is a liquid mixture that emits a pleasant fragrance when rubbed onto the skin. It may contain fragrant essential oils derived from plants and spices or synthetic aromatic compounds. It is also known as a cologne or aftershave. Perfumes are marketed as either men’s or women’s and many are labeled with the French words ‘pour homme’ and ‘pour femme’ to indicate the intended target audience.
The history of perfume dates back to ancient Egypt when it was used in religious rituals and as a component of the embalming process. A variety of ingredients were employed including herbs, flowers, frankincense and myrrh. During the middle ages, perfume production moved from the home to specialized shops where perfumers made scents by diluting plant oils with alcohol. It was during this time that the five main categories of perfume were developed: floral, oriental, woody, chypre and fresh.
Modern perfume is made by blending different chemicals or extracts with carrier agents and fixatives, often in a lab setting. Several methods are used to extract the essential oil from the raw materials: steam distillation, expression, enfleurage (squeezing the plants), solvent extraction and maceration. The perfumes are then diluted with a combination of alcohol and water.
Most modern perfumes are based on natural products with synthetic alternatives available for those who wish to avoid animal-derived ingredients. The perfume ingredients are mixed according to a formula that has been predetermined by a person in the industry who is experienced at creating scents and is referred to as a nose. The perfumes are then aged for months and occasionally years to allow the various components of the fragrance to blend together and fully mature.
Fragrance companies are able to produce perfumes in large quantities and sell them at an affordable price. The cost of a bottle of perfume depends on its concentration: the higher the percentage of perfume oil, the more expensive it is. In addition, the quality of a perfume is often determined by its age and the level of sophistication and effort put into creating it.
In a study by Herz, women were found to select a particular fragrance based on its effect on their mood, and how it aligned with their personality or how they wished to be perceived. This suggests that olfactory processing is influenced by reward, and the hedonic effect of perfume is partly mediated by the OFC and the amygdala.
It has been suggested that certain odors have specific emotional and physiological consequences, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. However, these effects are likely a result of associative learning and the immediate neural and behavioral responses to a particular odour rather than any direct pharmacological activity of the odour itself.
Some of the ingredients used in perfumes are potentially toxic and can cause allergic contact dermatitis. In addition, the evaporation of some perfumes can cause environmental problems. The health and environmental impact of perfumes is an area that requires further research, particularly considering the growing popularity of organic cosmetics that are free of potentially harmful chemicals.