By Taisha Grant
Perfumes are carefully formulated mixtures of natural or synthetic oils, diluted with a suitable solvent. The dilution is important, because the fragrance oils contain sufficiently high concentrates of volatile components to cause allergic reactions or even injury. So perfumes are frequently diluted in ethanol or an ethanol and water mixture, although the oils can also be mixed with jojoba, coconut oil, or even wax, so that most perfumes contain only 20% to 40% of aromatic compounds. Other fragrance products—eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne—are formulated so that they have even lower concentrations of perfume oils.
Eau de parfum contains, perhaps, 10% to 30% of undiluted oils; eau de toilette, between five and 20%; and eau de cologne even less, between two and three per cent of perfume oils. It's interesting that the art of mixing a perfume is frequently compared to music, in which the different notes combine to create harmony. Perfumes are described as having three different notes; head notes, or top notes; heart notes, or middle notes; and depth notes, or base notes. Diane Ackerman, of International Flavors & Fragrances, explained how she creates a scent: "you can actually smell the accords, which are like musical chords.
You will have simple fragrances, simple accords made from one or two items, and it will be like a two- or three- piece band." Developing her own metaphor further, she continued, "And then you have a multiple accords put together, [which] become a big modern orchestra." Many professionals who compose perfumes agree that each of the notes creates its own scent, but they combine to create an emotional or sensual effect in the person wearing the perfume, as well as those around. As Ackerman went on do say, that you don't want anything to be overpowering.
While perfume was developed in the ancient world, with its concept of the four earthly elements, the future for perfume may lie in the fifth element, outer space. A joint research project between the University of Wisconsin/Madison and NY-based industry leader International Flavors and Fragrances put a plant onto a NASA space shuttle in order to ascertain whether changes in microgravity would alter the fragrant essential oils plants produce.
IFF devotes about $100 million each year, to research and development. Wisconsin scientist Norman Draeger explained, "Companies like IFF are always looking for new sources of fragrances that consumers haven't experienced before. They find plants form exotic places on earth, such as Africa or South America, and identify pleasant tastes and smells." Pausing for emphasis, he resumed, "This latest exotic place where they haven't looked before happens to be in space."
About the Author: Taisha Grant writes about BuyBeaty Coupons,Ulta Coupons and Ulta deals
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