What Is the Main Ingredient in Perfume?
Since the beginning of recorded history, man has sought to mask or enhance his scent through the use of perfume , which mimics the pleasant scent of nature. Many natural and man-made materials have been used to create perfumes in order to apply them to skin and clothing, put them into cleansers and cosmetics, or scent the air. Due to differences in body chemistry, temperature, and body odour, no two people will ever smell exactly the same perfume. Perfume comes from the Latin word "per", meaning "straight" and "smoky" or "smoky". Many ancient perfumes are made by extracting natural oils from plants by pressing and steaming them. The oil was then burned to scent the air. Today, most perfumes are used in soaps. Some products even come with industrial fragrance enhancers to mask unpleasant odors or appear 'fragrance-free. Although fragrant liquids for use on the body are usually considered perfumes, true perfumes are defined as extracts or...