A perfume is a mixture of fragrance compounds. It is used to scent living spaces, objects, food, and animals. Perfumes are made from natural substances, such as essential oils, and synthetic chemicals. They are usually in liquid form.
There are five major perfume families: Fresh, Floral, Woody, Aquatic, and Oriental. Each of these groups contains subgroups.
Flowers are the most common source of aromatics. Common florals include ylang-ylang, neroli, and rose. Other common ingredients include plumeria, scented geranium, cassie, and ambrette.
Woody notes include sandalwood, cedarwood, vetiver, and cinnamon. These scents are typically mixed with spicy nuances, such as clove and cardamom. The aromatics in these blends are sometimes complemented with fruity nuances.
In ancient Greece and Rome, natural oils were the main components of perfumes. After the fall of Rome, Egyptian perfumery became influential. When the Arabs learned to distill, they started to produce perfumes.
During the seventeenth century, the popularity of perfume was enormous. King Louis XIV of France was known as the “perfume king.” He was able to create a floral pavilion in his royal palace. Visitors were often bathed in rose petals.
Alcohol is another common ingredient in perfumes. Alcohol serves as a fixative to ensure that the scent lingers. However, even tiny amounts of the substance can cause allergic contact dermatitis.
The main structural elements of a perfume are the base note, middle note, and top note. Generally, base notes are the most persistent. The middle and top notes are less volatile.