The Ancient Greeks and Romans mastered the use of fragrance to disguise body odor and to make them more attractive. In Greece, the natural oils from eucalyptus, lavender and musk were applied in scented baths and body scrubs. The Roman patricians used fragrant cloths or leather bags hung around their neck to control the smell of body odor and rotting food from disturbing them in places with high-density populations. In the Coliseum, there were mechanisms to feed floral and citrus scents throughout the stands.
For women, floral, earthy and oriental spice scents are the most sought after on the market today. Men prefer their fragrance to merge musk, almond oil and spice. There is fierce opposition in the perfume industry. A lot of major clothing designers and cosmetics manufacturers create a new scent every few years. They develop, create and market the fragrance with a precise target audience in mind. For the younger consumers, they typically focus on fruity or sweet smells with a soft powdery base.
Women prefer floral aromas that resolve into something warm, with bergamot, amber or patchouli at the base. Men’s fragrance regularly uses grapefruit, mandarin or other citrus scents as top notes. They settle in to lavender, sage or nutmeg and finish with a musky or woody undertone. Skilled perfumers are employed to create scents for a variety of couture houses and cosmetics companies employing a variety of aromatics. They use scents as well as the chemical structure of individual components to generate the final product.
Aromatherapy uses the fragrance of aromatic plant extracts, flower petals and essential oils such as orchids, lily of the valley and lavender in massage oils and bath salts to relax the senses and help the body ease. Shower gels and scrubs frequently employ mint, eucalyptus and citrus to awaken the senses and refresh the body. Essential oils are the liquid extracts from different types of trees, grass and plants. These oils disperse quickly when exposed to the air.
Most perfumes have a food equivalent. These are called notes. Scents that contain fruit notes are usually some type of berry such as strawberry, cranberry and black current. Almond, hazelnut and coffee are considered nutty notes. If you are considering giving the gift of fragrance, take into consideration the person’s favorite foods. Do they like citrus or vanilla? Perhaps they are crazy about mocha. With the hundreds of scents available you are certain to find one that is perfect for them.
Tags: Perfumes