Perfume - Make Your Own Or Buy?

It's really rather clever, the way perfumes are made.

Fine fragrances are composed of three things: solids (resins and essential oils), liquids (alcohol) and aromas, or compounds that combine to create a scent we identify as perfume. Perfume manufacturers first put together the solid and liquid components, then blend in the aromas. This last step is crucial to getting just the right scent.

 

To make a fine fragrance, engineers start by combining resins with alcohol. Resin is long chains of molecules linked end-to-end like beads on a string; it comes from trees, roots or fruits. The molecules contain lots of carbon atoms, so they're very stable. They don't react with other molecules. Resins are very expensive because most of them are made from tree sap, which must be boiled for a long time to release the chains.

 

Once all the components have been mixed together, perfumers add in the aromas to get just the right blend. They might use bergamot (a small citrus fruit) from Italy or neroli (orange flower petals) from Morocco, as well as ylang-ylang (flower of a tropical plant), jasmine and mandarin. Highly trained noses determine how much of each scent should be used in order to make an irresistible perfume.

 

 

To enhance the scents still further, some perfume makers add tiny amounts of synthetic chemicals known as fixatives, which help keep the aroma molecules from evaporating too quickly. Many natural scents contain a compound called vanillin (a soft-smelling chemical), but it evaporates very rapidly. , so perfumists sometimes add synthetic vanillin to hold the scent longer.

 

 

Once the perfume has been formulated, chemists run tests to make sure that all of its ingredients are compatible with each other, and that they will not separate or react when exposed to light, air or high temperatures. They also use gas chromatographs and mass spectrometers to ensure that each fragrance contains just the right combination of aromas in the correct proportions; for example:

The chemicals in orange essential oil disappear if more than one per cent of synthetic material is added.

(source: http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/5B.html )

 

 

To get a sense of the complexity of fine fragrances, consider that one batch of perfume might contain hundreds or even thousands of ingredients . The resins alone can make up between ten to thirty percent of the formula by weight (depending on type and concentration). Essential oils comprise perhaps three to five percent, while fixatives contribute another ten percent or so. Other ingredients include alcohol, water, ethyl lactate as well as preservatives and other stabilizing agents (such as polyethylene glycols) which add an additional 10-15% to the overall volume.

 

What Defines A Fine Fragrance?

 

When you walk into a fine fragrance store or boutique, your senses are immediately aware of the scents being worn but don't understand exactly what makes them different. It's not just a specific aroma that defines fine fragrances; one key difference is where the essence is derived from: natural versus synthetic. When it comes to fine fragrances, there is no rule as to which one you prefer over another when choosing your signature scent. Rather, it's all about personal preference and how each individual reacts (mentally and physically) to the many different scents available today.

 

While some of the most popular ingredients used in perfumes may seem familiar, they're often prepared in special ways for use in these kinds of high-quality fragrances. For example, the natural vanilla essential oil is obtained by grinding up raw vanilla pods and mixing them with alcohol. A synthetic extract is prepared from wood pulp by subjecting it to a number of chemical reactions.

 

What Is The Difference Between Natural And Synthetic Fragrances?

 

 

 

 

Natural perfumes are derived from plant or animal sources and have been used for centuries, while synthetic fragrances were developed in the 1900s. While natural scents are made from oils extracted from flowers and plants using solvents like hexane, many synthetics come from petrochemical-derived products (such as petroleum ether) or coal tar. Most perfume ingredients that we know of now are largely synthetic, but there's tremendous demand for high quality fragrances that contain a lot of natural materials.

They both smell good and can be used interchangeably depending on the wearer's taste; however, one might respond better than another based on each individual's skin chemistry. One reason for this difference may be due to how they are crafted: natural vs. synthetic or organic (however that is defined). Also, my sense is that when ingredients are grown/harvested/processed in certain ways (perhaps following ancient recipes),

 

How To Test Fine Fragrances

 

 

The right fine fragrance is often one that you instinctively feel drawn to when you first smell it on another person. There are some simple tests that you can do before purchasing your own bottle of designer perfume, however. First, try to figure out what kind of scents you particularly like (floral, spicy) and if there are any notes that you don't find pleasant (such as heavy musk). If possible, ask your friends for help in determining which particular fragrance best suits your preferences. Once you've narrowed it down to a few choices, test them by spraying small amounts on yourself and seeing whether or not the scent will last during the course of an entire day at work or while going about your daily activities.

 

When choosing a fine fragrance, also take note of the bottle's design as well as how easy it is to spray from the actual container; remember that there are many factors involved in creating a unique scent, and it's important that you feel comfortable using the bottle (it shouldn't be too heavy/difficult to hold). Another consideration is whether or not there are any allergy warnings on the label, since many ingredients can cause an allergic reaction if applied excessively.

 

What Are The Main Differences Between Ladies' And Gents' Scent?

 

 

Usually speaking, ladies fragrances tend to have a lighter aroma than those made for men; this is partially due to the difference in concentration of fragrance oils as well as a variety of herbal essences used in feminine scents. For example, while both genders may use musk in their perfumes, ladies prefer softer versions with less concentration of the element (natural musk typically comes from the musk deer, and is usually applied in minimal quantities because of its strength). The most important difference between gendered perfumes, however, is the note of ambergris: the animal secretion that emits a warm scent that has traditionally been associated with men's colognes.

 

Why Are Some Fragrances Pricier Than Others?

 

 

Most fine fragrances are comprised entirely or partially of natural essences, including rose oil (produced from roses after they've bloomed) as well as vanilla extract. Other ingredients used to create designer perfumes include synthetic materials such as labdanum resin (which comes from the juniper tree), benzoin gum/resin (which is used to make incense ), and ambroxide (a chemical compound that is derived from Ambroxan, a synthetic variant of ambergris).

 

While natural ingredients are certainly desirable because of their all-natural smell, synthetics are favored for many reasons. For instance, they tend to have an extremely long shelf life and retain their scents regardless of how hot the temperature may get; this means you don't have to worry about your perfume turning bad or losing its potency over time, making them good choices for those who enjoy traveling or sports activities. Synthetic elements may also be used as binders, which combines various materials together so that they'll stick better on the skin while maintaining a light consistency. Generally speaking, fragrance oils made partially with naturals will cost more.