Essential oils in Perfumes

Perfumes today are being made and used in different ways than in previous centuries. Perfumes are being manufactured more and more frequently with synthetic chemicals rather than natural oils. Many natural and man-made materials have been used to make perfume to apply to the skin and clothing, to put in cleaners and cosmetics, or to scent the air. Perfumes are made up of a blend of different aromas that usually come from essential oils. Perfume formulations can be expressed in volumetric or weight proportions of each of its components. Perfume is typically made with essential oils, distilled water and fragrance-free alcohol.

Perfume is made from about 78% to 95% of specially denatured ethyl alcohol and a remainder of essential oils. Perfume is the costliest form of fragrance with 22% of essential oils. Essential oils can be derived from the blossoms of flowers or parts of plants. Plants have fragrant oil intended to attract insect and birds for assistance in pollination. One way to obtain the essential oil is through a distillation process in which the fragrant oil is drawn from the plant. In distillation, the plant is basically boiled and the oils evaporate with the steam. The steam is condensed and the oil separates from the water.

There are less expensive ways to extract the essential fragrances to use in the perfume. One way is to infuse oil, such as olive oil, with the plant and then the oil is used when making the perfume. It is soaked in heated oil for a period of time until the scent is infused in the oil. In modern time, essential oils can be made synthetically and may not be taken from plants and flowers.