History of perfume
The history of perfume is not recent. The origin of perfume is attributed to ancient Egyptians. They used incense to burn oils and incense to celebrate prayers and religious ceremonies. Over time, fragrances have been introduced not only in divineness but also in everyday life. However, the sacred function of fragrance does not fade and has been secularly present for centuries. Perfume was also used to purify the body in religious ceremonies and was used as cosmetics.
In the ancient Greek era, nostalgia began to accompany the daily lives of ordinary people. Perfume was used simultaneously at important moments, such as sacred rites, and then the secular realm entered. Expeditions eastward enabled the discovery of exotic and valuable ingredients and facilitated perfume trade around the world through the spice trade.
The Romans gathered Eastern and Hellenistic heritage and continued to associate the sacred with the secular realm. The most important innovation attributed to the Romans was the use of glass containers. Its material is odorless, and these glasses have created the perfect container for the first cosmetics and perfumes. Perfume is considered important through the interaction between Western acquisition and Arab knowledge. Especially, among Arabs, perfume is used for personal care, purification ritual, and air freshening. The discoveries of chemistry and alchemy allowed the Arabs to export precious raw materials around the world and control the perfume trade for centuries.
Incense also continued to be used in Catholic sacred ceremonies, where it is treated as a precious gift among the elite. As a result of the Crusades, perfumes flourished again, and European trade in valuables took place in Venice. These perfumes were common to all social classes at the time. This perfume was supposed to have the power to ward off a plague that came in the 14th century. At this time, perfume was also used for therapeutic purposes.
Modern perfumery began in the 20th century, and aldehyde perfumes were mostly dominant. Perfumes are works of art not only in America but also in Europe. Now, the important point is not only the fragrance, but the message conveyed through it. Although nostalgia emerged as an expression of elite consciousness and privilege, it democratized over the centuries. Since then, perfumes have turned into holiness, luxury accessories, and therapies, and now perfumes are no longer a thing of the wealthy but an object by which everyone can creatively express their identity.
Perfume-making process
First, the material must be brought to the manufacturing center before the manufacturing process begins. The plant material can be harvested from all over the world and is often hand-picked for flavor. Animal products can be obtained by extracting fatty substances from animals. The chemicals used in synthetic perfumes are made in laboratories by the chemist. Then, in steam distillation, the steam is passed through the plant material and turned into a gas. The gas then passes through the tube, cools, and turns into a liquefied state. Put the flour in a rotating tank or drum and pour petroleum ether over the flower to extract the essential oil. The flower parts are dissolved in a solvent, and it is placed in ethyl alcohol. Heat is used to evaporate the alcohol, leaving behind a higher concentration of perfume oils when fully burned. During enfleurage, the flowers are spread over oil-coated cage sheets. The flowers are then removed by hand and replaced continuously until the oil absorbs the perfume. Maceration is like enfleurage, except that it uses fat to absorb the smell of flowers. As in solvent extraction, the essential oil is obtained by dissolving the fat in alcohol. The citrus oil is obtained through the expression process, and the fruit or plant is pressed either mechanically or manually until all the oil is squeezed out. Once the perfume oils are collected, they are mixed by the on-site masters. Developing a special formula for a fragrance involves as many as 800 different ingredients, a process that can take years. The resulting fragrance is mixed with alcohol. Most perfumes are made with about 10-20% perfume oil dissolved in alcohol and water. Perfumes are often blended and aged for several years. Then the perfume is tested again to make sure it smells right, and that is how perfume is made.
Benefits of perfume for people
There are about five main advantages of using perfume. The first advantage is that perfumes have been used historically. It suppresses unwanted odors and allows people to smell good throughout the day. Also, one of the benefits of using perfume is that it can improve people’s moods. Perfume is also used to express how people feel. Whether you’re playful, timid, or introverted, perfumes offer many scents for different moods. So, people choose the right perfume and use it. Just like pretty clothes, perfume can boost your self-confidence and let people go through the day without being aware of the smell. A little scent can have a good effect on our personality. People can gain the courage to fight adversity by choosing the scent that suits them. Also, the sense of smell is the most important of the five senses. Sometimes, people can be attracted to someone simply because of their smell. Perfume is rich in pheromones, so it can make a person attractive. Perfume can also give a chance to recall happy memories. People are specific reminiscent of the scent. For example, if they smell the perfume that their mother uses, they will recall memories with her. So, people should buy and try new perfumes when they travel or have a good time. Various perfumes remind those times.
Conclusion
In today’s era, people use perfume when they work, travel, or visit a place. Such a phenomenon is a great way to make those people more attractive and boost their self-confidence. Perfume is also very popular as it has established itself as an accessory. By developing these perfumes that have been used for many years, people will be able to enhance themselves and create a great opportunity to recall memories.
References
TAILOR MADE. (2021). History of perfume. Available: https://www.tailormadefragrance.com/en_int/history_of_perfume. Last accessed 30th august 2021.
Evelyn S. Dorman. (2009). How perfume is made. Available: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Perfume.html. Last accessed 30th august 2021.
Ameya C. (2020). 10 Amazing Benefits of Using Perfumes. Available: https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-using-perfumes/. Last accessed 30th august 2021.
