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Writer's pictureIssy Thomas

Perfume- A CHEMICAL POEM

I recently listened to a very interesting podcast called Making scents- The story of perfume Bridget Kendall explores perfume in the past and what is it is today in the present day. With scientist and critic Luca Turin, writer and curator Lizzie Ostrom and the perfumer Thomas Fontaine.


Defining what perfume is? Luca Turin described perfume as a chemical poem, 'its a work of art done by arranging chemicals with each there own smell in such a way to deliver a impression, a feeling'


I think this is a perfect romantic description of what perfume is to many people, people want to fall in love with a smell and wanting it to transform there lives. People are buying into a story and the way they want to come across.


Lizzie ' it's a beauty product' 'its apart of our daily routine, night or morning'

'It can be linked to religion and rituals'. For this modern 21st century is this definitely the correct way to describe what perfume has now become, it is something which everyone loves and enjoys. It is an accessory for any attire and makes high end brands such as Gucci, Channel and Tom Ford accessible to a different social dynamic.


Thomas explained that the word perfume came from the Latin perfumare, meaning "to smoke through".


 

Perfume containing four main animal extracts which used to be used to help fixatives to help the perfumes smell how they do for longer

- plays on perfumes portion of a product that Arousal and sometimes repulsion.

when extracted neat they smell urination, or body smells.


-Musk Deer -

-Beaver-

-Civet Cat-

-Ambergris-


Lots of these animals and original elements from nature are no longer used in perfumes because of how hard they are to get hold of and the killing of endangered animals.


Synthetics now used instead. Since the late 1900th century. Synthetics aren't as romantic as talking about natural materials, most perfumes now use synthetics as alternatives due to massive reduction in price and easier to find and extract.


 

2Oth century is where perfume has really come to be, the art of perfume evolving consumer culture and sophistication advertising campaigns.


It was Francois Koozi who began the relationship with his new relationship between bottles and perfume. He set up on his own, he defined the geography of perfume for the next 50 years. He linked the perfume with the bottle, and he asked a special bottle designer to design a special bottle for his perfume.


He created a advertisement, he smashed a perfume bottle and had women flock over to want to know where to buy the perfume. It was a iconic story and this onwards creating a new start in the perfume industry.


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