Perfume Power

Whether you know it or not but perfume is centuries old, in fact about.com Guru Mary Bellis tells us that. He says the word perfume comes from the Latin per fume through smoke. Among the oldest uses of perfumes are burning of incense and aromatic herbs used in religious services, often the aromatic gums, frankincense and myrrh, gathered from trees. The first in incorporating perfume into their culture goes to the Egyptians. The trend was followed by the ancient Chinese, Hindus, Israelites, Carthaginians, Arabs, Greeks, and Romans. Another likely first is that the earliest use of perfume bottles, credited to Egyptians dates back to around 1000 B.C.

When looking back into history, many agree that the Egyptians, during Queen Sheba's rule [queen of Yemen and Ethiopia], were the first to incorporate perfume into their culture. From the religious ceremonies involving the burning of incense to the embalming of the dead, perfume was an integral part of the Egyptian life. "The most important perfume used by the Egyptians was the kyphi.

Scholars claim that when the tomb of Tutankhamen was opened, this was the odor that issued forth." But even scents like the fragrant myrrh were considered more precious than gold. In the Bible, one of the Three Wise Men brought this gift to the newborn Christ.

After defeating Darius III of persia, when Alexander the Great moved in Egypt he learnt about perfumes. It was said that the floors were sprinkled with scented waters and his clothes were imprinted with perfumes of fragrant resins and myrrh. However, it's the Greeks who brought about the science of perfume by categorizing them by the part of the plant from which they were made and documenting their compositions.

Bellis says that the art of perfume is often compared to music; with different notes all combining to create harmony. Perfumes are composed of three notes: notes of the head (top notes), notes of the heart (middle notes), and notes of depth (base notes). The top notes are the most volatile and evaporate the fastest, hence the name "notes of the head". Each of the notes creates is its own scent, yet blends with the others to create a smell, an emotion.

Kim Draper offers a glimpse of perfume-making: The strength of your aromatic liquid or perfume depends on the ratio of essential oils to water and alcohol. Perfume is the strongest formula: 15-30 percent essential oil, 70-85 percent alcohol, and the remainder or at least 5 percent water. Be sure and use bottled distilled or spring water only. 100 proof Vodka should be used for the alcohol, you may also use Brandy, but it has a distinct aroma of its own and sometimes gets in the way of blending in the essential oils.

If you want to add color,Draper continues, use a high quality, natural, vegetable food dye. You will also need sterilized bottles to put your creations in, and as much as you want to use the pretty clear cut glass bottles, please dont. They attract perfumes worst enemy: the sun.