We all know that perfume is a substance which smells in any number of
pleasant ways from floral to citrus or a deep outdoors walk in the woods
scent. This comes from the aroma chemicals used in it. Many types of
essential oils, compounds and solvents are combined to achieve this
effect. The perfume itself is used for various reasons, to compliment
the body, to freshen rooms, even on objects or letters. How much and the
kind of solvent assorted with the fragrance oil is what determines if a
scent is to be labeled a perfume extract, Eau de toilette Eau de
perfume or Eau de Cologne.
How to Describe a Perfume
Since every perfume company worth more than a plug nickel knows that
keeping the formulas of its perfumes top secret is essential for their
continued success, describing a perfume by its components can’t be done.
Plus there’s the fact that even if it were possible to know the
formula, the ingredients would generally be too many to be classified in
any meaningful way.
Scent
Now here’s where the aroma chemicals come into play. Perfumes can be
described by smell. There are several scent families by which fragrances
can be classified. For example: Floral — These scents are overshadowed
by the smell of one or more kinds of flowers. Chypre — These scents
are created with a like base containing bergamot, oakmoss and labdanum.
Woody — These scents are overshadowed by primarily scents of the woods,
like sandalwood and cedar.
Notes
This
term refers to fragrance notes. A combination of alcohol and water is
the solvent for the aromatic chemicals. When this perfume comes in
contact with human flesh, the body heat makes the solvent quickly
vaporize, allowing the fragrance left behead to slowly evaporate over
the next several hours. A Top note is a scent which can be detected
right away upon putting the perfume on. Heart notes — These are the
composition of the scent of the perfume that can be detected only after
the top notes have evaporated. And finally there are the Base notes.
These are the scent of a perfume that also comes into play after the top
notes have gone. Combining the base and middle notes together is the
essence of the perfume. The aromatic chemicals here are deeper within
the perfume and usually don’t make themselves known until about a half
hour after the perfume is put on.
Tags: Aroma Chemicals