Perfume is a combination of fragrant oils or aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents in liquid form used to impart a pleasant smell to the human body, clothing, food, objects and living spaces. Its scent is applied by spraying or dabbing on the skin, and it may also be used in air-diffusion systems such as a humidifier, vaporizer or room diffuser.
Perfumery is an ancient art, dating back to Mesopotamia and Egypt. The fragrance industry has evolved through the centuries, with perfume being a luxury product that is now sold around the world.
The process of creating a new fragrance starts with inspiration. This can come from a person, place or mood; a scent ingredient; another art form such as music, literature or visual arts; or a perfumer’s own experience. Once the idea is conceived, the perfumer develops a concept and prepares a formula. The formula consists of a set of ingredient concentrations and percentages that is scalable to any batch size. Perfumers typically write a formula for 1000 grams (1 kilo), but they may work with smaller batches, which conserves ingredients and saves money.
Once a fragrance is complete, it is tested on people and reformulated if needed. Then it is bottled and ready to be sold. Some perfumes are marketed as a unisex, while others are labeled ‘Pour Homme’ or ‘Pour Femme’. A perfume’s odour can change throughout the day, depending on the wearer’s skin chemistry and the natural composition of the fragrance notes. The odour can also change over time due to the breakdown of molecules and the changing weather. Perfumes with aphrodisiac properties, such as Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and Vanilla, are said to evoke intuitive sensual responses and have been known to seduce.