Many natural extracts have been replaced by synthetic compounds and the once alchemic process is now highly industrialized. Most people are correct in assuming that perfumes are concocted from a mix of chemical and natural ingredients, but as perfume formulas are kept strictly confidential, it’s difficult to know what exactly is in our favorite scent. Even though we wear it every day, we still find ourselves wondering, behind all of the gorgeous packaging and heavenly smells, what are the ingredients in perfume?
Natural Oils
Natural Oils are derived from two sources, plants and animals. Many natural oils can be mimicked artificially and provide a cost and time efficient advantage during the manufacturing process, but some perfume houses still prefer to use the real thing.
Plant Sources
Flowers, blossoms, leaves, twigs, roots, bulbs, seeds, fruit, wood, moss and bark are the most commonly used natural ingredients in perfume. Pure extracts of these sources are called essential oils and are the most costly form of fragrant oils.
Animal Sources
Most people are surprised to find that popular ingredients in perfumes are extracted from animals. Musk is traditionally derived from the scent sacs of the Asian musk deer, civet musk from the glandular secretions of the civet (a small mammal found in Africa and Asia), ambergris from the intestines of the sperm whale, castoreum from the scent sacs of the American beaver and more familiar scents are derived from honeycombs. Some of these oils can also be created synthetically which is the preferred option in the fragrance industry for financial and ethical reasons.
Synthetic Oils
During the Industrial Revolution, it was found that many flower essences could be chemically reproduced for a more cost effective option to extracting natural oils. Virtually any scent can be imitated and hard to capture scents can also be created through chemical compounds, for example Calone is the name of a sea breeze scent that is widely used in the fragrance industry. Fragrant oils (synthetically made) are not to be confused with essential oils (highly concentrated pure flower and plant extracts).
Chemical Compounds
Like any fragranced product, perfume has its fair share of undesirable chemical additives. Whether used to prolong the scent, mimic a natural aroma or act as a solvent, the chemicals found in perfume are numerous and many are toxic. Over 500 chemicals can be used to make one fragrance, the most popular being:
• Benzaldehyde
• Benzyl alcohol
• Camphor
• Ethanol
• Ethyl acetate
• Linalool
Other chemicals found in perfumes and colognes include coal, tars and petrochemicals.
As trade secrets in the fragrance industry keep competitors and consumers in the dark about the components of each specific perfume, we do know that there is a highly guarded formula of ingredients that go into each bottle. While most people are content to leave it at that, those with allergies or skin sensitivities would find it worthwhile to research the ingredients in their perfume further.
The Basic Formula
All perfumes, from cost effective drugstore to high end designer brands, have the same basic formula:
Water + Alcohol + Fragrance Oils + Chemical Compounds
These four ingredients form the basic structure of a perfume, but the variations of fragrant oils and chemical additives used in each perfume are endless. Some ingredients found in your favorite scent may even surprise you!
Natural Oils
Natural Oils are derived from two sources, plants and animals. Many natural oils can be mimicked artificially and provide a cost and time efficient advantage during the manufacturing process, but some perfume houses still prefer to use the real thing.
Plant Sources
Flowers, blossoms, leaves, twigs, roots, bulbs, seeds, fruit, wood, moss and bark are the most commonly used natural ingredients in perfume. Pure extracts of these sources are called essential oils and are the most costly form of fragrant oils.
Animal Sources
Most people are surprised to find that popular ingredients in perfumes are extracted from animals. Musk is traditionally derived from the scent sacs of the Asian musk deer, civet musk from the glandular secretions of the civet (a small mammal found in Africa and Asia), ambergris from the intestines of the sperm whale, castoreum from the scent sacs of the American beaver and more familiar scents are derived from honeycombs. Some of these oils can also be created synthetically which is the preferred option in the fragrance industry for financial and ethical reasons.
Synthetic Oils
During the Industrial Revolution, it was found that many flower essences could be chemically reproduced for a more cost effective option to extracting natural oils. Virtually any scent can be imitated and hard to capture scents can also be created through chemical compounds, for example Calone is the name of a sea breeze scent that is widely used in the fragrance industry. Fragrant oils (synthetically made) are not to be confused with essential oils (highly concentrated pure flower and plant extracts).
Chemical Compounds
Like any fragranced product, perfume has its fair share of undesirable chemical additives. Whether used to prolong the scent, mimic a natural aroma or act as a solvent, the chemicals found in perfume are numerous and many are toxic. Over 500 chemicals can be used to make one fragrance, the most popular being:
• Benzaldehyde
• Benzyl alcohol
• Camphor
• Ethanol
• Ethyl acetate
• Linalool
Other chemicals found in perfumes and colognes include coal, tars and petrochemicals.
As trade secrets in the fragrance industry keep competitors and consumers in the dark about the components of each specific perfume, we do know that there is a highly guarded formula of ingredients that go into each bottle. While most people are content to leave it at that, those with allergies or skin sensitivities would find it worthwhile to research the ingredients in their perfume further.
The Basic Formula
All perfumes, from cost effective drugstore to high end designer brands, have the same basic formula:
Water + Alcohol + Fragrance Oils + Chemical Compounds
These four ingredients form the basic structure of a perfume, but the variations of fragrant oils and chemical additives used in each perfume are endless. Some ingredients found in your favorite scent may even surprise you!
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