Arranging Fragrant Compositions

Arranging Fine Perfume Compositions©

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Picture Courtesy - Daily Mail UK

What exactly is a perfume composition one may ask. Simply put it is a fine arrangement of various scented materials that was originally found in nature. Arranging Fine Perfume Compositions is a book that I have wanted to add to my web site for quite some time. Surfing the internet one will rarely find a perfume formula. A well noted industry leader at one time showed a wide range of compositions that displayed the art to its fullest glory. For some unknown reason the fascinating data were recently removed. Even though most of the formulas were not quite right the basic arrangement was a wonderful source of new ideas.

As I have stated many times through my web site the fragrance industry including the fine art of composing a perfume is steeped in mystery and secrecy. The craft enjoyed by a select club of artists called perfumers is the most sought after profession within this industry. Formulation books that are up to date do not exist. If a book of formulas happens to appear they often display compositions that were created in the 19th century when essential oils predominated the arrangement. I remember seeing one formula that utilized tuberose absolute at fifty parts per thousand. Today an artist can not even use essential oils in large percentages due to stringent IFRA regulations. Regardless it would be cost prohibitive due to the absolute material retailing at $10,000 per pound.

A perfumer such as well known artist Edmond Rudintska would poo poo my collection. My answer of course is the old saying I have showed you mine why don't you show me yours. The craft is learnable, but takes years to separate the wheat from the chaff otherwise known as horse manure. Again, a fine fragrance is nothing more then a percentage of aromatic materials that on a parts per 1000 basis works harmoniously together to create a scent.

Part of the reason why books on the creative art are rare is partially due to a key fact that a perfumer signs a confidentiality with his employer. A fragrance created by an artist belongs to that fragrance house. One could learn the art from the formula, but one will rarely find them on the www. Each house has hundreds of thousands of compositions in their data base. It's a wonderful source of information that few other then very trusted employees ever see. It is my hope that my collection will display how one goes about creating a fine fragrance. This is one of the reasons why I added my personal arrangements. One can readily see how similar many of the compositions actually are. A floral arrangement can predominate in one family and be a minor note in another.

Again, quite often the difference between a functional scent and a fine fragrance is generally based on the selection of materials. A fine fragrance will incorporate bases, similar materials in duplication including quite often absolutes. Adding essential oils in lieu of synthetics will extend the life or diffusiveness of the fragrance. Today many fine fragrances lack depth due to the ban of the essential oils which in turn causes so many new launches to fail. A suggested book to read about this fascinating business is Chandler Burr's The Perfect Scent, A Year Inside the Fragrance Industry.

Hopefully sometime next year I will add a second book of formulas on how to create perfume bases. Until then.

Enjoy.