Fragrances

The fragrance industry is comprised of those establishments responsible for the manufacturing, marketing, and retailing of fragrance products. Fragrances are composed of a blend of aromatic oils and compounds, solvents, and fixatives. These ingredients combined in a mixture create a pleasing scent to be used for living spaces, humans, animals, or objects. Fragrances can be produced from plant or animal extracts, or via synthetic sources.

Typically, ethanol and water are added to base fragrance blends in order to dilute the concentration. Different fragrances possess different aromas concentrations as well as bases, which give them their unique aromas. The strength and stamina of a fragrance is reliant upon the percentage of aromatic compounds combined with the added solvent mixture. Though ethanol and water are the most common solvent used for dilution of fragrances, they can also be diluted using oils of neutral scent, such as liquefied waxes or jojoba. Competition in the fragrance industry exists between the various fragrance manufacturers and retailers.

Fragrances typically have three “notes” that are manufactured to evolve throughout the longevity a fragrance has while being applied to an animal, object, or person. These notes reveal themselves over time, with the “top note” being the first aroma noticeable. Usually the top note is composed of molecules that quickly evaporate, but exist long enough for the initial scent of the fragrance to be noticed. The “middle notes” of a fragrance are the next to be recognized, and come about once the top notes have dispersed. The middle notes are the majority of the fragrances chemical make-up. The final notes of a fragrance are known as the “base notes”, and are typically deeper and more solid.