It makes me feel better when I hear people saying that I smell good. Truly, scent contributes to forming a person's image. Nowadays, people's interest in scent is increasing. There are more people who use perfume, however, many do not know much about perfumes and how to use them. ST prepared an article to guide perfume enthusiasts. ......Ed
Do you often wear perfumes? On Coming-of-Age Day in Korea, people give three gifts to those who are coming of age. These are roses, perfume, and kisses. Among them, the reason people give perfume is to emit a pleasant scent to those around them. It shows that people care about their scent and wonder about other people’s scents. There are probably many Soongsilians who pay attention to their perfumes. So, ST is going to introduce several stories about perfume.
How did perfume originate?
People’s interest in scents has been present for a long time. Humanity’s first use of flavorings began with religious ceremonies. Ancient people burned incense for God, which became the origin of the word 'per (through) + fumum (smoke).’ In Korea, it is an example to burn incense at memorial services. Ancient Egyptians also loved scents. The incense sticks in Tutankhamen’s tomb were discovered in the 20th century, and the scent of those sticks was well-preserved enough to smell. In the past, solid fragrances and oil fragrances were used, but alcohol perfumes were made in the 14th century when alchemists discovered alcohol and began mixing it with flavorings. At this time, the first perfume called ‘Hungary Water’ was made. Commercialized perfumes were highly popular among aristocrats and their popularity soared. Perfumes were also used to hide the stink of people who were hard to wash often in the past and to hide the bad smell of leather. Since the 19th century, synthetic perfumes have been created, and various scents have been available.
How to obtain a flavoring
There are three typical ways to obtain natural flavorings. The first and oldest method is steam distillation. First, hot steam is applied to plants to destroy the plant’s cell walls and extract the aroma and vaporized oil. The vaporized oil is then cooled to obtain flavoring. You can get most of the natural flavoring oils by using this method. The second method is the pressing. Unlike the steam distillation method, it directly squeezes materials vulnerable to heat. Most citrus fruits that are weak against heat can be extracted using this method, such as bergamot oil and lemon oil. Last method is solvent extraction. First, pour hot and highly volatile solvents into heat-sensitive materials. Scents and materials dissolve in solvents. So, after the solvents evaporate, you can obtain a flavoring oil. The oil obtained in his way is called an absolute. Examples are lavender absolute, rose absolute, etc.
Types of scents
What are people’s criteria for choosing perfumes? According to a survey conducted by ST, the first criterion was the scent that individuals wanted and the second criterion was the price. So, this time, ST introduces popular scents our readers most likely encounter. Citrus scent utilizes citrus fruits, such as bergamot, lemon, and orange. It is mainly used in top notes to give a fruity feeling. Floral is a scent using flowers. The scent of mixed flowers is called a bouquet. Green is a scent reminiscent of grass, forests and moss. Musk is obtained from animals, so most musk perfumes are made of artificial flavorings. It is a scent that gives a warm feeling, so most people use it in winter. Woody is mainly made from flavorings extracted from sandalwood and cedarwood. Oriental is a scent that expresses the image of the Orient, featuring predominantly powdery, woody, and animalic notes.
What are the fragrance concentrations?
Do you know about fragrance concentrations? According to a survey conducted by ST, only 20% of respondents are aware of the fragrance concentrations. Perhaps, fewer people considered the fragrance concentrations when choosing perfumes. The fragrance concentrations refer to the proportion of flavoring, and the higher the concentrations, the longer the sustainability. EDC (Eau de Cologne) has a 3%~5% concentration, and the maximum duration is 3 hours. EDT (Eau de Toilette) has a 5%~10% concentration and lasts for about three to four hours. EDP (Eau de Parfum) which has 10%~15% concentration and lasts for about five hours. Parfum or perfume has over 15% concentration and lasts for about 10 hours, making it expensive. Fragrance concentrations are divided into more details, but others are hard to see on the market. When choosing perfumes, it is also good to consider fragrance concentrations.
How do you wear perfume?
According to a preliminary survey, about 67% of perfume users wear perfume on their wrists. Most respondents spray their perfumes on their wrists then rub them on other areas, such as the neck. Most people probably use this method to boost their scent because their wrists and necks have a pulse. However, most perfume experts do not recommend this method. In the case of wrists, we tend to come into contact with other objects in our daily lives. If you come into contact with other places frequently, the scent can change from its original intended scent. And oily part of the body also can change the scent. Therefore, when wearing perfume, choosing other body parts to maintain the original scent as much as possible is recommended.
Using perfume is a popular and effective way to express oneself. Soongsilians may also express themselves better by finding a scent that suits them and using it accordingly.
Kwon Da-hee (ST Cub-Reporter)
kkkdiee@soongsil.ac.kr
