Perfume is a mixture of fragrance oils, alcohol, and water that gives off a distinctive scent when sprayed or rubbed on the skin. It is a sophisticated art that requires a lot of creativity and can take a long time to perfect. Perfumes have been used throughout history to enhance personal hygiene, mask unpleasant odors, and serve as an expression of wealth and prestige.
Today, perfumes typically contain from tens to hundreds of ingredients. These include essential oils (smelly, oily, plant-derived aroma chemicals such as hydrocarbons, ethers, esters, and aldehydes) and synthetic aromatic compounds. The latter are derived from natural ingredients such as vanillin and coumarin, or manufactured through chemical processes. Historical natural fragrance ingredients such as amber and musk oils, however, are no longer employed due to environmental concerns.
Perfumes are designed to produce a three-part smell consisting of top notes, heart notes, and base notes. The top notes are the initial smells that the nose detects when a person wears perfume. The heart notes are the lingering smells. The base notes are the smells that last the longest after a person has sprayed or rubbed on a perfume.
Scent can affect mood, behavior, and the perception of an individual’s personality. For example, a 2003 study found that women who wore the scent Jontue—an ode to the Greek mythology of Eros (Cupid) and Psyche—reported feeling passionate, determined, and enduring. Other factors that influence perfume choice include one’s social status, lifestyle, and occasion.