Perfume is a complex mixture of oils that can have anywhere from tens to hundreds of ingredients. The odorants are usually extracted from natural sources like plants, flowers, fruits, and even animal secretions. They are then mixed with other components like solvents, diluents, and fixatives. The result is a fragrance that can be worn as perfume, cologne, or body spray. Modern perfumes are typically made using natural aromatic compounds, but synthetic fragrance chemicals can also be used.
Once the raw materials have been collected, the odorants are extracted by a variety of methods including steam distillation, solvent extraction, and cold pressing. The extracts are then distilled again to further concentrate and purify them. They are then blended together by perfumers to create the desired scent. These blends may also contain diluents and fixatives to adjust the intensity and duration of the smell.
The composition of a perfume is often described in musical metaphors with three sets of notes that unfold in harmony over time. These are known as the top note, middle note, and base note. The top note is the initial scent a person perceives when they apply the perfume and is created using small molecules that evaporate quickly. The middle note is what people begin to smell a little bit later, a few minutes to an hour after the perfume has been applied. The base note is a more solid scent that appears after the middle note has faded.