The word perfume is taken from Latin "per," which means thorough and "fumar," which means smoke. While many people consider perfume to be only a scented preparation applied to the body, perfume is defined as a pleasant smelling substance. Perfumes include incense and room aromas as well as combinations of naturally derived scents such as plant extracts or synthetic fragrances blended with a fixative.
Man blending oils to make perfume.
History
Perfumes have been used for over 4,000 years. Mesopotamiums and other ancient cultures used perfumes made with wood resins in the form of incense during religious ceremonies and also rubbed the fragrant oils on their bodies. The first floral perfumes were made with mixtures of oils with crushed herbs or flower petals. Not long after the discovery of steam distillation, a process that extracts the oils from plants with heat and alcohol, plant essences were blended to create unique fragrances. The first steam distilled plant essence used in perfumery was the rose.
Plant Extracts
Plant extracts and essential oils are natural additives to make perfume smell. Essential oils are the essence of a plant that is either steam distilled or chemically extracted. Floral waters are created by soaking crushed fragrant herbs or flowers in oil, alcohol or water to extract the fragrance of the plant. Perfumes are created by mixing combinations of different extracts into oil or alcohol.
Chemicals
Chemicals with aromatic properties are also used to make perfume smell. Specific chemicals are extracted from plant, animal and petroleum sources and combined to create a synthetic version of a natural odor. The fragrance industry is unregulated. The synthetic chemicals used in some perfumes may or may not have been tested for safety.
Blending
Perfume blends utilize a combination of aroma "notes" and "tones." The three classes of notes are top, middle and base. Top notes include light fragrances like lemon, lemongrass, orange, fir and eucalyptus. Middle notes include aromas like lavender, chamomile, basil and geranium. Base notes include deeper aromas like clove, jasmine and patchouli. A blend that includes an aroma from each category usually results in a pleasant smelling perfume. Fragrance tones include woody, floral, oriental and crisp and vary among perfumers.
Warning
Some people are allergic to certain chemicals or extracts used in perfumery. Always test a new perfume before using. To test perfumes to be worn on the body, dab a small amount on one part of the forearm. Monitor the area for 24 hours for signs of allergic response such as redness, rash or raised skin. To test perfumes used in room fragrances like incense, use only a small amount and pay attention for allergic response such as sneezing, watery eyes or headache.
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