Cosmetics & Skin Care Techniques

The word "perfumery" comes from the French word "parfumerie, parfum" ("pleasant smell, perfume"). Essential oils are extracted from fresh or dried essential oil plants. Some of them, for example, rose, geranium, mint or coriander, are extracted by steam distillation; others, for example, orange, tangerine and lemon, are obtained by squeezing these fruits from the peel; still others are obtained as a result of extraction and are called extract.

When distilled by steam, the essential properties almost always change, the smell and quality of essential oils deteriorate (compared to the original raw materials), therefore, the greatest value in preserving the original smell are oils obtained by squeezing and especially extract oils, which have a very persistent smell that completely matches the smell of the raw materials and impart this property to the compositions into which they are introduced.

Resins and balms (benzoin resin, incense, Tuluan balsam styract, etc.) are secretions from cuts in the bark of some trees. Resins and balms are widely used in perfumery. They are valued not only for their natural scent, but also for the fact that they are also a very effective fixative, increasing the durability of perfume odors.

Animal raw materials used in the perfume industry are the dried glands of some animals (musk, beaver stream) or secretions of glands and other organs (ambergris, civet, etc.). Musk is a strong-smelling substance produced by the glands of male musk deer and some other animals. The beaver stream is the paired glands of the male beaver. Civet is an ointment-like substance extracted from the glands of civets and used in perfumery. Ambergris is a waxy aromatic substance formed in the digestive tract of the sperm whale and used in perfumery to impart persistence to the smell of perfume.

Perfume - alcohol solutions. The quality of a perfume cannot be judged by the initial smell, that is, the smell that appears immediately after applying the perfume to the skin, fabric or hair. The most characteristic properties of the smell appear only after 15-20 minutes. This smell is basic (middle). It lasts for a long time and the highest demands are placed on it. Usually after 20-25 hours the main smell of the perfume begins to evaporate, and the residual smell left after the main one can remain on the perfumed surface for another 10-15 hours.