by Anne

Essential oils:the secret of a good perfume?

The positive effect on the partner, a stimulating scent or a feelin...
ätherische öle parfüm

The positive effect on the partner, a stimulating scent or a feeling that you know from somewhere. Essential oils work in a perfume in a variety of ways. Their smell is stimulating, calming, or simply refreshing.  The impressions from the top note, heart note and base note mix. It is perfume that has been beguiling for centuries and is made from part alcohol and part essential oils. Natural perfume consists of certified oils and perfume can also be made at home. In this article we would like to explain the topic and shed light on the effects, production and composition of the essential oils in perfume.

Essential oils can do that

  1. Essential oils are said to have an anti-aging effect.
  2. Essential oils relax and stimulate.
  3. In addition to perfume, essential oils are also used in skin care.

Overview:

What are essential oils exactly??
Three types of essential oils Many building blocks for perfumem
How is a perfume made from an essential oil??
Suitability: Are essential oils in perfumes good for the skin??
Create your own perfume with essential oils
Conclusion

What are essential oils exactly??

The essential oils in a perfume are essences obtained from various raw materials available. There are vegetable, animal and also synthetically produced oils. They are produced via steam, expression, enfleurage or maceration. The more complex the process of making an essential oil, the more expensive the fragrance in the end. In the raw state, essential oils are mostly volatile and flammable. In contrast to fatty oils, they evaporate without leaving any residue on the skin. Essential oils can be dissolved by alcohol and are also fat soluble. The solution in water, however, does not work.

Vegetable oils are formed in the plant by oil glands and then stored in the plant. They can be found in bark, flowers, leaves, peels or resins. In their chemical composition they are similar to the alkaloids. Well-known oils are cinnamon leaf oil or aloe vera.
Animal oils are obtained from animal fats and used further. They play a subordinate role in perfume production, as animals should be protected today. The scent of the musk ox is historically known.

Synthetic oils are used instead. They imitate the scent of animal essential oils and are cheaper to manufacture. They create artificial fragrances that we are used to from nature, some of them of very good quality. They are also known as artificial oils. In most publications, however, real essential oils mean the vegetable oils. There are 3 basic types of essential oils:

  • Natural oils
  • Nature-identical oils
  • Artificial oils

Three types of essential oils Many building blocks for perfumem

For the production ofPerfume the essential oils are divided into different building blocks, which can then be used to create a fragrance. The largest part in a perfume is alcohol, but up to 20 of the perfume also consist of differently composed essential oils. The following modules are known::

  • Flowers: They are mostly used as the heart note of the perfume because of the imaginative and floral smell. The processes for producing this type of essential oil are very complex. Jasmine, lavender or mimosa are popular.
  • Fruits: The scent of fruits is very suitable as a top note, since these scents are easily volatile. Like citrus fruit oils, they are often used for summer perfumes. Grapefruit, lime or orange are common.
  • Spices: Heavy fragrances andMen's perfumes are often made with spices to give the scents more expression. Anise, ginger, cardamom or coriander are just as popular as nutmeg or rosemary.
  • Barks and resins: The fresh and sweet, rather woody scent of rounds gives the perfume a green note that is perceived subconsciously. Cedarwood, myrrh, rosewood and sandalwood are known here.
  • Leaves, berries, moss: The oils from leaves, berries and moss give the perfume a natural note with a certain bitter freshness. Examples are bay leaves, juniper or vetiver grass.
  • Animal secretions: hardly exist anymore. The best known is surely musk. The animal secretions such as civet or beaver horn are almost exclusively produced artificially today for animal welfare.
  • Gourmand notes: The gourmand notes include caramel, sugar, honey or almond. They are often used for winter perfumes.

How is a perfume made from an essential oil??

The word perfume comes from the French and means fragrance. A perfume is therefore a fragrance that is composed of various components. Similar to a house, it consists of various components. The foundation of the perfume is shaped by a scent that is supposed to express the basic mood of a product. This so-called base note is the basic scent that characterizes a perfume. The perfume is then supplemented with a heart note that solidifies and refines this mood. This main house complements the solid foundation. A tart, fresh heart note is often used to create an invigorating effect, while a more sweet note can stand for togetherness and closeness. The base and heart notes are the ingredients that make up the perfume. But a house also has a roof. Our roof is the top note. In order to refine the fragrance even further, the perfume is also equipped with special essential oils during production and these are added as a top note. The harmony of the individual fragrances is particularly important. Fragrances are often based on nature, but can also be created through trying. The combination of the components can also be thought of as the composition of a song. The base note, heart note and top note then result in a wonderful composition. How to use perfume correctly without fogging yourself or others, we have summarized in this article:: Apply perfume correctly.

Effect and perception of essential oils in perfume

Base note

Heart note

Top note

Permanent fragrance: noticeable for a long time. Prevents the heart and top notes from quickly evaporating.

Only works after approx. 15 minutes and is perceived with a delay.

It evaporates quickly and is the first thing you notice.

Overview of the dilution of essential oils

In perfume, essential oils are dissolved with ethanol. There are certain types of perfume that represent the ratio of dilution as a designation. A distinction is made between the following dilution names:n:

  • Eau de Cologne EdC, 2-55%)
  • Eau de Toilette EdT, 4-88%)
  • Eau de Parfum EdP, 8-155%)
  • Perfume or Extrait 15-300%)

Suitability: Are essential oils in perfumes good for the skin??

The application with essential oils usually does not take place in the form of perfume. For example, there is a well-known opinion that lavender oil should help against acne. But how do the oils in perfume affect the masses? Many oils in their original form are not suitable for use on the skin, as they can cause irritation and irritation. That is why the oils in the perfume are diluted. For perfume, a dilution of 30 is useful here. It is diluted with ethanol. In this concentration, the oil has a positive effect on the skin and irritations only occur in rare cases and with certain skin types. In general, you should therefore test the tolerance to an inconspicuous part of the body before using a perfume with essential oils on a regular basis.n.

Good oils for the skin with good tolerance:

  • almond oil
  • Sunflower oil
  • olive oil
  • Jojoba oil

If the compatibility is given, the oils can act on the body. Oils also get from the skin through their molecular structure into the bloodstream and tissue. Like naturally absorbed oils, oils with the base note of a perfume can also have an effect. However, the effect has not been researched or proven, which is why you should listen to your body here.

Create your own perfume with essential oils

You need alcohol to make your own perfume. The 90vol alcohol is available in the pharmacy and can be used to make your own perfume. In addition to alcohol, essential oils are also required for the heart, top and base notes. These oils are available in small, concentrated bottles in the drugstore. So that you can mix them, you should first make a 20 alcohol solution, i.e. dilute it.n.

If you don't dilute the oils, they work too intensely to be able to produce your own perfume. You can then work well with the diluted oils. The base note should have the largest share in the perfume. In addition to the base note, you can add other smells as top notes and heart notes. One should proceed with caution and use more volatile oils. The combination of oils also affects the color. Dilution with water is not recommended, as the oils are not soluble in water. So, dilution in alcohol is the only way. Water would also cloud the perfume. If you want to change the color of a homemade perfume, you can use food coloring. We recommend starting with simple compositions and then building up.

Conclusion

Essential oils are responsible for the smell and therefore the effect of a perfume in perfume. Most perfumes mix different oils into one composition. There are hardly any animal ingredients left, the current trend is towards natural and sustainable perfumes. You can also make perfume yourself, but the effort is great if you want to make the essential oils yourself.

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