Perfume

Perfume

File:Perfume bottles.jpg

Various perfume bottles.

Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects, and living spaces a pleasant scent. It has been used since ancient times, with the earliest recorded use of perfume by the ancient Egyptians, followed by the ancient Chinese, Hindus, Israelites, Carthaginians, Arabs, Greeks, and Romans.

History

The art of making perfumes, known as perfumery, began in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt and was further refined by the Romans and the Arabs. The world's first-recorded chemist is considered to be a woman named Tapputi, a perfume maker mentioned in a cuneiform tablet from the second millennium BC in Mesopotamia.

Composition

Perfume is composed of three main components:

• Essential oils: These are concentrated hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. They are extracted through distillation or expression.
• Aroma compounds: These are chemical compounds that have a smell or odor. They can be natural or synthetic.
• Fixatives: These are substances used to stabilize the volatility of the perfume, allowing it to last longer.

Types of Perfume

Perfumes are categorized based on their concentration of aromatic compounds:

• Parfum (Extrait de Parfum): Contains 15-40% aromatic compounds.
• Eau de Parfum (EdP): Contains 10-20% aromatic compounds.
• Eau de Toilette (EdT): Contains 5-15% aromatic compounds.
• Eau de Cologne (EdC): Contains 3-8% aromatic compounds.
• Eau Fraîche: Contains 1-3% aromatic compounds.

Production

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Distillation process used in perfume production.

The production of perfume involves several steps:

1. Collection: Gathering raw materials such as flowers, herbs, spices, and animal products. 2. Extraction: Obtaining essential oils through methods like distillation, expression, or solvent extraction. 3. Blending: Combining various oils and compounds to create a desired fragrance. 4. Aging: Allowing the perfume to mature, which can take several months to years. 5. Filtration: Removing any impurities or sediments from the perfume.

Uses

Perfume is used for a variety of purposes:

• Personal fragrance: To enhance personal scent and hygiene.
• Aromatherapy: To promote relaxation and well-being.
• Cultural and religious ceremonies: Used in rituals and ceremonies.
• Flavoring: In food and beverages to enhance taste.

Related pages

• Essential oil
• Aromatherapy
• Fragrance wheel
• Scent marketing