“The world's oldest known perfumes have been found on the island reputed to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, lust, and beauty, Italian archaeologists announced last week.”
John Roach
for National Geographic News
for National Geographic News
March 29, 2007
The article goes on to say that these perfumes, stored in clay jugs, contained extracts of anise, pine, coriander, bergamot, almond, and parsley are among the ingredients the ancient perfume-makers preferred. The herbs were ground up and mixed with olive oil. Also mentioned is the fact that we have lost the real world of natural fragrances, as most perfumes today are made with chemical / synthetic reproductions of natural fragrances and scents.
Fundamentally perfumes are made with specially blended essential oils of top notes, middle notes and base notes, to give an over all scent that is appealing – each perfume different from the next.
Fundamentally perfumes are made with specially blended essential oils of top notes, middle notes and base notes, to give an over all scent that is appealing – each perfume different from the next.
Top notes are the scents you smell immediately upon application. Top notes tend to be earthy, floral, fresh and fruity.
Middle notes begin to appear just as the top notes are fading. Middle notes tend to be rich, heady, green in character, musty.
Base notes bring depth to the perfume and are the scents that last the longest. Base notes tend to be spicy, warm, woody, sweet.
For example Dolce & Gabbana perfume has the following scents:
Top: Petitgrain, tangerine, basil, ivy, freesia, aldehydes.
Middle: rose, orange flower, jasmine, carnation, lily of the valley, marigold, cilantro.
Base: sandalwood, vanilla, tonka, musk.
* * Some truths about perfume: some fragrances contain animal hormones and many perfumes contain musk from anal glands of deers, and synthetic hormone-like ingredients called phthalates, and parabens, as well as a long list of other 'secret' ingredients. In fact, perfumes and fragrances are top secret and ingredients don’t need to be disclosed. Who really knows what we are applying to our skin? * *
* * Some truths about perfume: some fragrances contain animal hormones and many perfumes contain musk from anal glands of deers, and synthetic hormone-like ingredients called phthalates, and parabens, as well as a long list of other 'secret' ingredients. In fact, perfumes and fragrances are top secret and ingredients don’t need to be disclosed. Who really knows what we are applying to our skin? * *
There are also floral water perfumes such as rose water. My son likes to make perfumes by soaking scented rose petals or daisies in water – a budding little alchemist.
If you’re wanting to make some natural perfumes yourself, perfumes that don’t contain chemicals or synthetically derived ingredients (including parabens) try these recipes:
Floral Water Perfume
Rosewater Perfume
· 50ml glass bottle
· 10ml vodka
· 40ml rosewater (or plain water if you don’t have rosewater)
· 8 drops bergamot EO
· 4 drops geranium EO
· 2 drops patchouli EO
Place all ingredients in a 50ml glass jar and leave to sit up opened for two weeks. Shaking contents daily. After two weeks, pour perfume into another container, rinse your 50ml glass jar and allow to dry. Then filter the liquid back into the glass jar with a coffee filter.
The alcohol acts as a preservative and has the ability to stabilise ingredients and enhance fragrance and scent. It can be omitted if you prefer, though this may affect the shelf life and scent of your home made perfume.
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