Welcome to scents, and the secrets behind the world of fragrance. We are delighted to introduce you to the world of perfumery, our family has been on this journey for over 30 years. As a perfumer, I have had the opportunity to travel to London, Paris, Versailles, Rome, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and China in my pursuit of learning and discovering all the different cultures, botanical species, extraction methods and uses of those extractions in specific markets.
In order to understand how fragrance is used today, let’s go back in time and learn from those who discovered the many benefits of plants and their essential oils long ago. The use of essential oils and resins can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians cultivated plants for various uses including religious activities, burials, mummification, cosmetics, ointments and even medicinal purposes. It is believed that the Egyptians used a type of solvent extraction to extract the essential oil from the plant. A distillation vessel has been discovered that is believed to be utilized for the extraction of oils dating back about 3,000 years ago. Essential oils and resins can be extracted from many different parts of a plant, such as flowers, leaves, seeds, peels, roots and bark. Ancient Romans as well as Greeks used essential oils for bathing, massaging practices, medicinal purposes, and even for superstitious rituals. China and India have a long history in their use of essential oils, which is widely referenced in modern day medicine. As we can see, essential oils are highly versatile, which has made them very popular with the modern consumer. We have benefited from those civilizations of ancient times who were the pioneers in discovering the natural benefits of essential oils. In modern times, the utilization of essential oils has morphed into use for holistic practices, aromatherapy, skin irritations, various ailments, even romance and add a pleasant fragrance to a wide variety of product forms.
At the beginning of the 19th century, chemists were able to identify many of the constituents contained within essential oils. This new research, formed the groundwork for the development of naturally derived aroma molecules and new innovative ingredients for fragrance creations. The introduction of new aroma ingredients has created the opportunity to expand a perfumer’s fragrance palette, significantly increasing the ability to develop fragrances that will meet the technical challenges of all the various product forms. These advancements have resulted in the ability for people around the world to have access to fragrances ranging from perfumes, hair care products, cosmetics, household cleaning products, air fresheners, laundry products and a host of other commonly used items.
The fragrance industry's recent return to naturals has led to a massive push in funding active programs that have had a direct impact on helping indigenous communities grow many of the plants we derive our essential oils from. Improving cultivation practices, using environmentally friendly, sustainable methods to ensure a safer, cleaner environment for the future are just a few of the programs that the fragrance industry has participated in on a global basis. As our journey progresses we will bring you stories from all over the world, from the ancient past to the present, behind the history, culture, and science of the aroma's around us.
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