The Composition of Most Perfume Blends

Perfume may come in small bottles, but thatthis composition, and this includes all traditional
doesn't mean that the fragrance isn't complex.perfume types like single floral, bouquet, amber,
Perfume actually refers to any type of fragrance,wood, leather, chypre, and fougere. Out of these
including cologne, but modern terminologytraditional perfume classifications, patchouli scents
separates men's cologne and women's perfume.are associated with wood, while tobacco is
Essentially, all types of fragrances ranging fromassociated with leather. Bergamot, the first citrus
proper perfumes to aftershaves consist ofcent, is a chypre type of scent, while fougere
various perfume oils diluted with a solvent likeoften has a base of lavender, coumarin, and
ethanol. Overall, any fragrance is a composition ofoakmoss. These basic types aren't exclusive to
essential oils, aromas, fixatives, and a solvent,perfumes, however, and also apply to colognes.
with ethanol being the most common.Modern perfume and cologne classifications
The most pungent fragrance is actually perfume,expand upon this to include green, bright floral,
but most women's fragrances, with the exceptionaquatic, citrus, fruity, and gourmand fragrances.
of a "splash," are categorized as perfumes. TheWhile some, such as green, are self-explanatory,
next two are eau de parfum and eau de toilette,bright floral actually combines single floral and
both with concentrations of 15 and 10-percentbouquet fragrance types and gourmand includes
aromatic compounds. Eau de cologne is moredessert-scented perfumes, such as those fragrant
diluted, while a splash or aftershave has theof tonka bean, vanilla, or white chocolate. Some
lowest concentration of aromatic compounds orperfumes even combine these modern
perfume oils.classifications to create a green and bright floral
Regardless of the type of fragrance, perfumes,fragrance or a floral and gourmand perfume.
as well as colognes, are composed of three partsA sampling of classic and modern perfumes often
that segue into each other. These parts, orreveals this palette of fragrances. Although most
"notes," consist of a top, middle, and base, withwomen's perfume comes in eau de parfum and
this section of notes coming in up to 30 minuteseau de toilette varieties, some scents still come
after the perfume is sprayed. All three partsas more concentrated perfumes.
influence each other. All types of perfumes have