
The most frequently used fragrances in perfumes
Perfume has the unique ability to attract people because the scents it contains can evoke certain sensations in us. This art of perfume making is older than many people think. Around 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians were already burning scents such as resins, myrrh and plant extracts. Even today, some ingredients are more in demand than others. We present the most commonly used scents in perfumes.
Animal fragrances
Musk is one of the most well-known fragrances. It was originally extracted from a gland of the musk deer to make perfumes and soaps. Later, musk ducks and muskrats were also hunted to obtain the gland secretion. However, synthetic production of musk began as early as 1888 in order to reduce dependence on natural aromas.
The extraction of animal scents also led to the loss of some whale species, the North American beaver and other animals that lost their lives for it. Even filled honeycombs were used. Due to ethical considerations, animal scents are now almost exclusively produced synthetically. In addition to animal sources, the plant world also offers a variety of interesting scents.
Herbal fragrances
Highly aromatic fragrances can be extracted from different parts of plants, such as flowers, leaves, wood and bark. These include, for example, the bark of the cinnamon tree or sandalwood.
Synthetic fragrances
For many years, perfumers' laboratories have been able to produce almost any imaginable fragrance synthetically. For this purpose, the chemical components of natural fragrances were examined in order to reproduce them artificially. The synthetic variants often show no differences to the natural originals and are also much more durable. In addition, the costs of the fragrances have been significantly reduced through synthetic production.
The most popular fragrances in perfumes
The fragrances used to make perfumes can be divided into different fragrance families in order to better categorize and differentiate them. Jean Kerléo introduced the following classification in 1990:
- Hesperidee (citrus)
- Floral (Flowery)
- Fougère (fern)
- Chypre, Boisée (Woody)
- Ambrée, Cuir (leather, Juchten)
A more differentiated subdivision of the fragrance notes could look like this:
- Woody
- citrus
- Flowery
- Oriental
- Chypre
- Fougère
- Spices
- gourmands
- Exotic/Tropical
- leather/tobacco
fragrances for women and men
Characteristic fragrances are often used in the production of perfumes for women and men. After all, the perfume should underline both the gender and the personality of the wearer. Basically, different fragrance notes can be divided into specific fragrance types, each of which contains different fragrances.
Female fragrance types
- Romantic: These fragrances are emotional and include floral notes such as orchid or cherry blossom.
- Seductive: These fragrances emphasize the sensual qualities of women, such as patchouli or amber.
- Extravagant: Women who love the extraordinary choose fragrances with notes of cassis and iris.
- Glamorous: Women who love to make a big impression choose fruity scents like raspberry or cherry.
- Elegant: Elegant women rely on style, supported by scents of jasmine or lotus.
- Sporty: Casual women prefer fresh scents like bergamot or melon.
Male fragrance types
- Mysterious: Many men radiate a mysterious aura and prefer spicy scents such as tobacco or sandalwood.
- Seductive: Men can be just as seductive and confident and choose scents like suede or vanilla.
- Stylish: Courteous men rely on natural scents of grasses, lavender or suede to emphasize their elegance.
- Trendy: Fashionable men use fruity, fresh scents such as green apple, mandarin or bergamot.
- Masculine: Robust men prefer smoky scents such as musk or pine wood.
- Sporty: Adventurous men who spend a lot of time in nature choose refreshing scents such as lemon or bergamot.