Fragrance is a mix of more than 3,500 chemicals that give personal care, cleaning and other products their unique smell. But exposure to some fragrance chemicals can lead to health problems, including cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies and sensitivities. Many products list “fragrance” on the label but very few name the specific fragrance chemicals they contain. This is because a major loophole in federal law allows manufacturers to include any chemical in the fragrance mixture under the name of “fragrance” without listing it on the ingredients list.
Fragrances are also used to make perfumes, colognes and other cosmetics. The word fragrance suggests a sweet or pleasant odor that is created by a combination of fragrance compounds and natural or synthetic ingredients.
The scents used in a perfume are divided into a number of categories called notes. The first category, top notes, is the initial scent that is detected after the application of a perfume. The scents that emerge from the top notes are usually fresh and fruity. This includes citrus, such as the scent of lemon or orange or fruit, such as peach or tangerine, and herbaceous aromas like thyme or parsley.
Middle notes, sometimes referred to as heart notes, are the main body of a perfume. They appear close to the departure of the top notes and are more pronounced than the latter. Middle notes include floral scents such as rose, jasmine or orchid, and woody scents such as sandalwood or vetiver.