Perfume is basically a ratio of aromatic compounds to a solvent. Today, fine fragrances use ethanol or an ethanol and water mixture as the solvent. Perfume manufacturers like to keep their aromatic compound formulas a secret, but there are some basic terms that describe a perfumes concentration by percent/volume of perfume oil and solvent.
Perfume has the most concentration of aromatic compounds. Esprit de Parfum is only slightly less concentrated and rarely used. Eau de Parfum is half as concentrated as perfume. Eau de Toilette is a quarter of the concentration of perfume. Eau de Cologne is reduced again by half, and the fragrance is not very long lasting. Perfume mist has a low percentage of aromatic compounds and does not have an alcohol solvent. Splashes and after-shaves have the lowest percentage of fragrance and fade quickly.
The creation and manufacture of perfume is a very complicated and precise science. The fragrance is divided into three notes and designed to captivate a person in stages. The top note is the first scent perceived and is usually the one that convinces a customer to buy the product. The middle note forms the heart of the fragrance and is meant to hide the basically unpleasant scent of the base note until it has time to become more pleasant. The base note is usually not perceived for at least 30 minutes after application and gives the depth to the fragrance.
Traditional perfumes had several basic classifications including single flower, bouquet, animal scents combined with flowers, wood including patchouli and oak moss, leather and fern including lavender. The modern classifications include cut grass, cucumber, aquatic, citrus, fruits other than citrus including peach and mango and edible scents such as vanilla and coumarin which is the chemical that gives the pleasant odor of the Tonka bean. The trend in the second half of the 20th century was for clean, fresh fragrances with less spice.
High quality, name brand perfume is usually costly and needs to be stored correctly to preserve the fragrance. Heat and oxygen that regularly accumulate in the head space of the bottle can alter the fragrance and spoil the remaining perfume. To preserve the fragrance longer, it is best to keep the perfume in its original packaging and away from direct sunlight. Putting it in the refrigerator will also preserve the fragrance. Spray dispensers have the best chance of preserving the perfume for the longest period of time because they are sealed and do not allow the perfume to touch skin, cloth or interact with oxygen. The invisible beauty of perfume has enhanced the confidence of men and women throughout time.