Perfume is a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients that is designed to smell pleasant. It’s also thought to enhance mood and increase self-esteem [1,2]. The art of perfumery dates back thousands of years. Fragrance oils were first used in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt as part of religious ceremonies. Later, perfumeries perfected the process of extraction and the use of animal secretions like ambergris from the Sperm whale, castor oil from the beaver and musk from the civet cat. These ingredients act as fixatives, delaying evaporation of more volatile perfume ingredients allowing them to last longer.
Throughout history, perfume has been used by men and women to express personality and identity. It was popular in the Renaissance through the nineteenth century, until the germ theory promoted public hygiene, and wearing perfume became frowned upon. In the same vein, perfumes went through a period of being gender stereotyped: sweet floral blends were deemed feminine while sharper notes such as pine and cedar were viewed as masculine.
Nowadays, fragrances are often grouped into olfactive families depending on their style. The largest group is floral, which is divided into red flowers (rose, violet) and white flowers (jasmine, gardenia, freesia, tuberose, ylang ylang). These scents are further distilled or enriched with green, aldehydic and fruity facets to create the main bouquet. Other popular olfactive groups include woody, oriental and fresh.