Fragrances and perfumes.

What are fragrances and perfumes?

A fragrance is defined as a combination of organic compounds that produces a distinct smell or smell.

A perfume is a liquid mixture used to emit a pleasant smell. It is made up of fragrant essential oils derived from plants and spices or synthetic aromatic compounds.

Cosmetic fragrances applied to a person's body to give off a pleasant smell include perfume, cologne, and aftershave. [1].

What are the different types of perfume?

Perfumes are classified into 5 main groups based on their concentration of aromatic compounds.

Parfum or extrait has a fragrance concentration of 20-30%.

• Since perfume contains a high concentration of fragrance, it is generally the most expensive.
• It is generally a heavier and greasier product than other types of perfume, and tends to be used more sparingly.
• The smell is long-lasting: an average of 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

Eau de parfum or parfum de toilet has a fragrance concentration of 15-20%.

• Eau de parfum contains a higher concentration of alcohol and water and is generally cheaper than parfum.
• It is a lighter product and has a shorter duration of around 4 to 5 hours.
• Eau de parfum is the most common type of fragrance and is the base for other types of fragrances.

Eau de toilette has a fragrance concentration of 5 to 15%.

• Eau de toilette has a low concentration of essential oils and a high concentration of alcohol.
• It dissipates quickly and lasts 2 to 3 hours.
• It is a cheaper option and is often used for daywear.

Eau de cologne has a fragrance concentration of 2 to 4%.

• Eau de cologne has a much lower fragrance concentration to create a very light formulation.
• It is primarily used in fragrances designed for men as an aftershave or splash fragrance.
• Dissipates quickly and lasts approximately 2 hours.
• Cologne, by definition, refers to “cologne water.” However, the term “cologne” is commonly used in the English language to denote any fragrance worn by a man. [2].

Eau fraiche has a fragrance concentration of 1 to 3%.

• Eau fraiche has the lowest fragrance concentration of all perfume types, as it is diluted with water rather than alcohol or oil.
• Common uses of eau fraiche include mists, splashes, and fogs that are very light and dissipate within an hour [2].

Fragrances are also added to many cosmetics and household items.

How is perfume made?

The perfume manufacturing process for natural essences involves collecting, extracting, mixing and aging the product. [3].

Collection

• At the harvesting stage, the initial ingredients are obtained from various plant substances and fatty extracts from animal products. [4].

Extraction

• Distillation is the most used method to extract perfume. In steam or dry distillation, the material is heated to high temperatures and condensed into gas to release the desired essential oils, which are then cooled and liquefied. Water distillation is more effective for some more delicate materials, where the plant material is placed in boiling water.
• In solvent extraction, the material is added to a solvent, which forms a waxy aromatic compound that is then mixed with alcohol to release the essential oils. This method is becoming less used as it is expensive and time-consuming.
• In expression, the material is compressed and the oils are mechanically squeezed out. This method is mainly used for fresh fruit peels and thermally labile components.
• In maceration, the material is soaked carrier oils that serve as solvents, which capture larger, heavier plants molecules. This method is useful for materials that require a higher yield of essential oils.
• In enfleurage, the material is extracted in a fat or oil base and then extracted with alcohol. Enfleurage is no longer used commercially [3,4].

Mix

• The oils are mixed according to a particular formula using multiple different ingredients.
• The aroma is mixed with alcohol; The volume of alcohol used depends on the type of perfume desired. [4].

Aging

• It takes months or years after the scent has been mixed to achieve the desired aroma. This aging period allows for continuous mixing of selected chemicals to modify the aroma. [4].

Other perfumes are made synthetically in laboratories. While avoiding the need to source natural ingredients, achieving the desired aroma can be more challenging [3].

What are the ingredients and chemical structures of perfume?

Perfumes are made up of three structural parts: the head, the middle and base notes, to provide the first impression, the body and the lasting impression of the fragrance, respectively, after the application of a perfume. The presence of one note can alter the perception of another.

The main note, or top note, provides the initial aroma that forms the first impression of the perfume. It has the following features:

• It is composed of small light molecules that have a fresh, strong aroma but evaporate quickly, usually 5 to 30 minutes after application.
• Common top notes include citrus (lemon, orange), light fruits (berries) and herbs (sage, lavender) [3,5].

The middle note, or heart note, masks any unpleasant initial impression of the base note and provides the main body of the aroma.

• It is made up of more complex molecules than the top notes and has a softer, rounded and balanced aroma.
• It first appears 20–60 minutes after application, and generally lasts 2 to 4 hours.
• The shades are made from more powerful flowers and spices. Common middle notes include lemongrass, rose, geranium, jasmine, nutmeg, lavender, cinnamon and coriander. [3,5].

The base note is added to the middle note to increase and deepen the existing body of the aroma and provide a lasting impression.

• It is made up of large heavy molecules to provide a rich and smooth nature to the aroma.
• It is usually not noticeable until 30 minutes after application or during the drying period. Some may last more than 24 hours after application.
• Common base notes include cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla, amber, patchouli, oakmoss and musk [3,5].

Why do you use perfume?

Perfume is used to give a pleasant and desirable aroma to a person's body, usually with the aim of increasing attractiveness and self-confidence.

Smells are reported to improve health and well-being by improving mood, reducing anxiety and stress, increasing cognitive function, and improving sleep [6].

A link between pleasant smells and better pain tolerance through the activation of opioid pathways has also been identified.

What are the adverse effects of perfume?

The adverse effects of perfume mainly involve irritating and allergic reactions.

Wearing perfume directly exposes the skin to various chemicals, which are then absorbed. The chemicals in some fragrances can cause allergic contact. dermatitis in sensitive people Studies have reported that one third of the general population experiences at least one adverse health effect from scented products [7].

Common adverse effects may include:

• Headaches
• Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
• Nausea

• Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis (see fragrance mix allergy)

• Asthma flare-ups.

Irritant contact dermatitis is due to repeated or excessive exposure to irritating chemicals in fragrance, usually over a significant period of time. It is presented as located erythema at the exposure site, dry, cracked skin and blisters and erosions in severe cases

Allergic contact dermatitis is a delay hypersensitivity reaction and may occur after one or, more frequently, many exposures. Symptoms are similar to irritant contact dermatitis, but small amounts may be enough to cause allergy. It can also cause dermatitis on sites that were not directly exposed to the fragrance.

Allergic contact dermatitis is confirmed by patch tests.

Cosmetic products do not legally require allergen labeling, unlike food [1].

What is the difference between perfumes marketed for men and women?

“Pour homme” and “pour femme” are French terms used to denote perfumes intended for men and women, respectively.

The difference is based on contemporary cultural and marketing trends. Perfumes that give off oriental, woody, and musky aromas are typically marketed as masculine perfumes, while fruity and floral scents are typically more feminine.

What do the terms “unscented” and “unscented” mean?

Fragrance-free products do not use fragrance materials for the specific purpose of imparting scent; however, they may contain fragrance ingredients intended for therapeutic uses such as relieving muscle pain or helping with sleep.

Unscented products contain chemicals that neutralize or mask the odors of other ingredients.