16 November 2012

FOR THE LOVE OF FRAGRANCE (Part 1)


As we approach Christmas fragrance is always a popular gifting choice, but how many of us know about its composition,designation and classification?
Below is some background info to that "liquid in a bottle" that we all love! 


THE “RECIPE” FOR FRAGRANCE

Quite simply fragrance is made up of water, alcohol, and “fragrance”- either essential oils, synthetic creations, or both..
It is widely believed that perfume comes from flowers, and that every liquid in a bottle is a “perfume”.
In actuality the raw materials that go into a bottle of scent come from a variety of resources, and not every liquid in a bottle is “perfume”.

Let’s take a look at some of the ingredients that can go into a fragrance recipe:


·         Flower heads- lavender
·         Flower buds- clove
·         Flower petals- jasmine, rose
·         Seeds- myrrh
·         Leaves- patchouli
·         Bark- cinnamon
·         Roots- vetiver
·         Wood- cedar
·         Stems- cypress
·         Rind- orange, lemon

       Animal ingredients



Many of the natural raw materials that go into the construction of a scent
can be quite costly and this all determines the price of the fragrance. 

 THE FRAGRANCE DESIGNATION


Fragrance can be designated by the concentration of fragrance in a bottle.  The higher
the concentration of “fragrance” in the recipe (compared to the alcohol, and water),
the longer lasting the scent will be.

   Fragrance designations fall into the following categories:

·        Pafum- 15% to 30% concentration
·        Eau de Parfum (E.D.P.) - 8% to 15% concentration
·        Eau de Toilette (E.D.T.)- 4% to 8% concentration
·        Eau de Cologne, Aftershave, and Eau Fraiche- less than 4% concentration

To be continued....



No comments:

Post a Comment