What is natural perfume? Natural perfume is derived from 100% natural botanical ingredients. These can include things like essential oils, CO2 extracts, absolutes & natural isolates.
It is January in Colorado, and today is dark, cold, and snowy. While the chilly weather often inspires productivity, it also sets the perfect scene for me to think about perfume, create it, and write about it. Today, I am reflecting on the changing seasons, our sense of smell, and how wearing perfume can enhance our mood while evoking nostalgic moments tied to the seasons in which they were worn.
The categorization or classification system for fragrances based on the style or type of fragrance is known in the fragrance industry as fragrance or olfactive families. These fragrance families are determined by the shared olfactory characteristics such as floral, amber, fresh, fougère, chypre, woody and gourmand.
So, what exactly is enfleurage and how is it used in perfumery? Enfleurage is a French word that comes from enfleurer which means to saturate with the perfume of flowers. The enfleurage extraction method is done using odorless fat (e.g., coconut oil) to capture the fragrance of fresh flowers.
The world of perfume can be confusing, especially when there is conflicting information regarding definitions and categorization in perfume. For example, one of the common misconceptions around fragrance is related to cologne and perfume and that cologne is for men while perfume is for women.
One of the comments I hear most often about natural perfume is that they do not last as long as mainstream fragrances. While this is certainly true, there are ways to make your natural (or any) perfume last longer.
Finding the perfect perfume (whether a natural perfume or not) can be overwhelming. With so many options available, it is understandable not to know where to begin. Whether you already have an idea of what you are looking for or not, it is important to consider several things to help you find a perfume you will love.
In terms of the process for making perfume, it is important to first start with my definition of what perfumery is. For me, perfumery is the language of scent, both an art and a science.
Beyond its connection to our sense of smell, to better understand the world of perfumery it is worthwhile to discuss its significance from a cultural and historical perspective.
