The word perfume comes from the Latin perfumare, which means “to smoke through”. It is a mixture of fragrant essential oils, solvents, and other ingredients that gives a pleasant scent to objects and living spaces.
Perfumes can be found in practically all cosmetic products. They can also be used as air fresheners. While they are commonly made from synthetic materials, many perfumes also contain natural components.
Natural substances include flowers, fruits, and nitrogenous compounds. Often, the most expensive fragrances are made from natural ingredients.
Synthetic fragrances, on the other hand, are usually manufactured in laboratories. These synthetic fragrances are cheaper to produce, so they can be used as an alternative source of compounds. Moreover, they can be used to give the user a scent that is not available in nature.
Fragrances are classified into five main families, which are Floral, Oriental, Woody, Aquatic, and Aromatic Fougere. Each family is divided into subgroups.
The oldest fragrance family is the citrus fragrance family. Citrus oils are the main components of eau de cologne. Eau de cologne was invented by the Ancient Greeks. However, it was the Persian chemist Ibn Sina who first developed the flower distillation process.
Floral perfumes are typically made from jasmine and rose. Other common notes are anise, caraway, nutmeg, and cocoa.
Woody perfumes are also made from woods such as sandalwood, pine, and juniper. They are generally more spicy than floral. Some examples of woody perfumes are Balenciaga Rumba and Chanel No.5.
Many modern perfumes contain synthetic odorants, which can give a fragrance that is not available in nature. Some people are allergic to small amounts of fragrance. In these cases, dermatitis may occur after many exposures.