How to make perfume!
Perfume is a blend of substances made from plant oils and synthetic materials...
by Manpreet
Illustrations by Amarjeet Malik

Perfume is a blend of substances made from plant oils and synthetic materials which produce a pleasant odour. The word is derived from the Latin word 'per fumum' which means 'through smoke'. The art of perfumery was known to the ancient Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Israelites, Arabs, Greeks and Romans.

The raw materials used in perfumery include natural products of plant or animal origin and synthetic materials. These substances are mixed in a particular proportion. A good quality perfume may contain as many as two hundred ingredients.

Essential oils obtained from plant materials are most often produced by, steam distillation, employing a mixture of the plant materials and water. Certain delicate oils may be obtained by the use of solvents.

Certain animal secretions contain odoriferous substances that increase the diffusion and lasting qualities of perfumes. T he animal products include ambergris from the sperm whale, castor from the beaver, civet from the civet cat and musk from the musk deer. Certain chemicals are also used to produce special fragrant effects.

The blending of these ingredients requires a great skill and a perfumer takes many years to learn this art. Perfumes are generally classified according to one or more identifiable dominant odours. The floral group blends such odours as jasmine, rose, lily and gardenia. The woody group consist of khuskhus, sandalwood and cedarwood. France produces maximum quantity of perfumes in the world.