Table of Contents
Plant sources
Plants are an amazing source of aromatics, especially when you take into account the different sources that they provide. Orange leaves and blossoms can be used as a key ingredient in petitgrain oil while orange zest is one of many ingredients in oranges oils.
Plants are essential to the production of many perfumes. Some plants offer their fragrant oils as a way to protect themselves from herbivores, infections and pollinators while other parts provide aroma compounds used in producing perfume materials. Plants remain one of the largest sources for fragrance ingredients with over 200 aromatics obtained by distillation per year
Bark
Bark from trees has been used for centuries to produce a variety of useful products. Cinnamon bark is often ground into powder and added to dishes as an aromatic seasoning, while cascarilla wood comes from the tree Croton eluteria that grows along Mexico’s Gulf Coast where it was once collected by local inhabitants in pre-Columbian times before being exported first through Veracruz and then New Orleans across North America
The fragrant oil found in sassafras root bark can also be extracted or purified on its own because safrole which occurs naturally within this compound is needed for other fragrance chemicals like synthetics vanilla extract flavoring such as cream soda (which contains no actual dairy).
Flowers and blossoms
Flowers and blossoms are a must for any perfumer who is looking to make their perfume as exquisite aroma. There’s no better way to get the perfect fragrance than by using these flowers! Not only do they smell amazing, but there are so many different types of them that you can use in your creations. You’ll have fun picking out which one will work best with your desired scent profile–whether it be fresh or floral scents, intense citrus smells, or even fruity/futuristic fragrances like peppermint and raspberry vanilla combo!
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are often the go-to when it comes to crafting an invigorating perfume.
They’re not just limited to oranges; lemons, limes and grapefruit all have a wonderful fragrance that can be extracted using various methods of extraction with different levels of complexity.
If you want something more exotic or unique than citrus but still in need for some zing, then there’s always blackcurrant leaf which gives off such delightful notes like cassis (blackberry) as well as juniper berry which provides echoes from the pine forests and fresh green fields of winter wonderland!
Grapefruit rind
Grapefruit rind is a natural aromatic that has been used for centuries.
However, due to sulphur content and the degradation product’s unpleasant smell when it decomposes, scientists have created an artificial grapefruit aroma which can be much more pleasant than the original.
Perfumers have been using leaves and twigs since the beginning of time. More modern perfumes are created by blending together lots of different scents to create a one-of-a kind scent that is both sweet, earthy, citrusy…or whatever you’re looking for! Leaves like lavender leaf or sage help give your perfume base an herbal note while violets add floral notes; other popular ingredients include hay, tomato leaf (for green), rosemary (earth) or citrus leaves which we use in our new line Citrus Scents®.
Resins
Resin-containing perfumes have been widely used by many cultures, with labdanum, frankincense/olibanum (the most expensive), myrrh, balsam of Peru, benzoin among the common ones in modern-day usage.
Pine resin was a favorite material because it smells so good when applied alongside other fragrant materials such as lavender oil or vanilla extract – this is what gives pine scented candles their distinctive smell!
Some of what is called amber and copal in perfumery today are the fossilized resin excretions from coniferous trees.
Roots, rhizomes and bulbs
Roots, rhizomes and bulbs are the most common ingredients in perfumery. Iris roots maintain a grounding effect while ginger’s various rhizomes keep you grounded yet energized.
Seeds
They give life to all sorts of vegetables and fruits, but they also can bring flavour. Some common seeds include tonka bean, carrot seed, coriander (a type of cilantro), caraway (another spice used in German food like rye bread), cocoa nuts or beans from the tree that produces chocolate products.
Woods
Woods are essential to perfumery as their oils and distillates provide the base notes.
Woods can be used in various forms, such as macerations or dry-distilled forms. Common woods include sandalwood, rosewood, agarwood birch cedar juniper and pine which are used for a variety of purposes including providing delightful scent bases that will last on your skin all day long!
Woods play an important role in making up fragrances because they have strong scents themselves but also serve to create unique blends with other ingredients like spices from around the world.
Terpenes
The most common types of terpenes are the monoterpene and sesterterpene.
The only difference between these two is their number of units, with a monoterpene having 2-5 units while a sesterterpent has 6 or more.
They too can be found in many different plants: from citrus to peppermint! Terpineols have an aromatic ring at one end that makes them smell like lilacs – which might explain why they’re so popular during springtime.
Citrusy oranges also contain citronellol as well as limonenes, both being cousins to our favorite lemon scents (though this doesn’t mean you should drink orange juice after lunch). One type not smelling of anything.
Animal Sources
Ambergris is a rare and valuable substance harvested from the sperm whale. It emits an earthy, musky fragrance that humans find to be pleasingly animal-like in its warmth. Ambergris has been used for centuries as a means of scenting objects such as garments or furniture with this alluring aroma.
Castoreum
Castoreum is derived from the beaver’s odorous sacs that are located between their genitals and tail.
The odour itself has been described by some perfume enthusiasts as “a combination of cherry-almond without any sweetness.
Castoreum can also act like an antidepressant when applied to skin due to it containing high levels of salsolinol which can make people feel happy or relaxed after applying just a little bit onto skin for up to 24 hours at first application – making this secretion quite valuable if you’re looking for something more than your average cologne!
The African Civets cats
The African Civets cats live primarily deep within forests but they’re often hunted down by people trying to get at those valuable spots near their rear end called “odorous acs.
“These bags produce the strong smell we know so well from perfumes today –
Hyraceum
You might be surprised to learn that what is commonly known as “Africa stone” or the petrified excrement of a rock hyrax, has been found all over Eurasia. It’s hypothesized this may have spread across these areas through humans who used it for fuel in their fires and cooking pits, which would explain its presence on other continents!
Honeycombes
Honeycombs are created by honeybees in their hive. Both beeswax and the natural sweet liquid (honey) can be extracted to produce an absolute. Beeswax is extracted with alcohol then evaporated for a waxy-sweet smell that lasts much longer than other fragrances, making it perfect for perfumes or home use!
Autism
A new study found that aromatic plants may be beneficial for those with autism.
The research, in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, revealed a link between sensory processing difficulties – such as hypersensitivity to smells or noise – and symptoms related to anxiety disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
It also showed children who did not have an autistic diagnosis but had these types of sensitivities were at greater risk for developing OCD later on than their peers without them. This could help explain why people living near farms experience higher rates of some mental illnesses compared to others
The results are preliminary because they only involved 28 children; however researchers say this is one area worth exploring further since it can lead us closer towards understanding what triggers these conditions
