Fragrance is a mixture of substances that gives objects, animals, and living spaces a nice scent. Fragrance can be made from natural or synthetic sources. It is added to many household products such as soaps and shower gels. Several fragrance chemicals have been linked to allergic reactions and hormone disruption. Some of them are even considered skin allergens.
The word fragrance means “sweet odor” or “a scent”. Perfume is a mixture of aroma compounds. A perfume is composed of three parts: head, middle, and base notes. Head notes are usually composed of light molecules, while middle and base notes are composed of heavier molecules. Base notes are generally rich and deep, compared to the head and middle notes. They are typically not detected until about 30 minutes after application.
For instance, the perfume base of Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria line is a good example of a fragrance base. These bases are blended from essential oils and aromatic chemicals. Many of these compounds can be found in nature, but the perfumes manufactured today are manufactured in laboratories. This method avoids the need to use naturally occurring materials.
Generally, the IFRA standards are the basis of the safety system used in the fragrance industry. However, many of the chemicals are not disclosed and are not tested for human safety in personal care products. Most of the chemicals are not regulated in Europe or the US. There are also several fragrance chemicals that are associated with serious health problems.