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The usage of perfumes goes back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks used fragrances to purify spaces, perform religious rituals, and for scented baths. Fast forward to the 19th century, where perfumes symbolized luxury and elegance. 

Technological advancements and the rise of synthetic aromatic compounds popularized the mass production of perfumes. Today, creating fragrances is both an art and a science. Whether you’re trying to find your signature scent or are simply an enthusiast, knowing how perfumes are created can enhance your experience. 

Let’s break it down one step at a time!

Concept and Inspiration

The first step in creating a perfume is to come up with a concept and inspiration. Perfumers often draw inspiration from a memory, an emotion, or a place. This helps give the fragrance a story or purpose. For instance, a scent could be inspired by a summer beach, ocean waves, or a romantic spring garden.

Sourcing Raw Materials

The next step in creating perfumes (香水) is sourcing raw materials from various natural and synthetic origins. These ingredients can be categorized into three groups:

Natural ingredients – these are derived from plants such as flowers, fruits, herbs, spices, and wood. Common ingredients include jasmine, rose, sandalwood, and vetiver. 

Synthetic origins – many perfumers use synthetic aroma compounds created in laboratories. Their aim is to replicate scents that are either rare or too expensive to extract from nature.

Animal-driven ingredients – in the early years of perfume creation, animal-driven ingredients, such as musk (from deer) and civet, were used. However, there are numerous ethical concerns associated with animal-driven ingredients. 

Extraction of Fragrance Oils

The next step is extracting aromatic compounds from the ingredients previously sourced. Several methods of extraction are used:

Steam distillation – steam is passed through natural ingredients, which causes the aromatic compounds to evaporate. It is widely used for flowers, leaves, herbs, and stems. The steam is condensed back into a liquid. 

Solvent extraction – plant-based ingredients are placed in a rotating tank, and a solvent is used to dissolve the aromatic compounds. It is mostly used for delicate flowers and herbs. 

Expression – the peels of citrus fruits are mechanically pressed to release their essential oils. Also known as cold pressing, this method is commonly used to create summer-inspired scents. 

Creating the Concentrate

Once the essential oils and aroma compounds are acquired, a perfumer blends them to create a concentrate. This blend has three layers, called notes:

Top notes – this is the first scent you smell. It is typically light, fresh, and fleeting, disappearing in 5 to 10 minutes. 

Middle (heart) notes – this is the core of a fragrance. Heart notes are more intense and long-lasting. In women’s perfumes, the middle note often comprises rose or jasmine, creating a feminine feel.  

Base notes – the base notes last the longest and provide depth to a fragrance. 

Pro tip? Focus on the base note of a perfume when trying to find your signature scent.

Diluting With Alcohol and Bottling

Next, the fragrance concentrate is diluted with high-purity alcohol. The formula is then left to age for several weeks to months, depending on the perfumer’s signature method. Different scents blend and harmonize.  

After aging, the fragrance is filtered to remove any impurities and bottled.

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