A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Absolute - Highly concentrated perfume ingredient obtained by the alcohol extraction of the concrete. The concrete is obtained by the solvent extract of the plant material.

Accord - The basic character or theme of a fragrance. Perfume accords are a balanced blend of three or four notes which lose their individual identity to create a completely new, unified odor impression.

Alcohol - Denatured ethyl alcohol is added to a fragrance compound to serve as the carrier. It modifies the fragrance intensity, makes application to the skin easier. Concentration of alcohol to perfume oils vary from perfumer to perfumer.

Aldehyde - An organic compound that ends with an aldehyde (C=O) group. Aldehydes are an essential class of perfume ingredients that impart a vivid top note to the perfume. Aldehydes were first successfully incorporated into a perfume by Ernest Beaux in 1921 in Chanel No. 5.

Ambergris - Lumps of oxidized fatty compounds, whose recursors were secreted and expelled by the Sperm Whale. Ambergris is commonly referred to as “amber” in perfumery and should not be confused with yellow amber, which is used in jewelry.

Animalic - Characterized by bodily aromas or aromas most associated with traditional animal materials such as musk, civet and castoreum. These materials are now banned and have been replaced with musks obtained from plants and civet and castoreum smelling molecules obtained synthetically.

Anosmia – The medical term describing the loss of the sense of smell. It may be caused by a cold, head-injury, nasal disorders, allergies, a virus or perhaps other maladies. People who have lost their sense of smell also lose the ability to detect many pleasurable aspects of food. Tests reveal that a loss in sexuality may accompany anosmia. If one’s sense of smell has always been dormant, it would be impossible to realize how important the sense of smell is to one’s enjoyment. But, if anosmia occurs later, the absence of the sense of smell can have a most detrimental effect on how we function in all of life’s situations.

Apocrines - A type of sweat gland which contributes to the sexual and body scent in humans and which influences the odor characteristics of one's fragrance.

Apocrines – A type of sweat gland which contributes to the sexual and body scent in humans and which influences the odor characteristics of one’s fragrance.

Aroma - A term used to describe a sensation which is between smell and taste, such as the aroma of coffee.

Aroma Chemicals - Molecules obtained from natural products or made by synthetic organic chemistry that have an aroma. Most of the synthetic aroma chemicals are nature identical, i.e., identical to the same molecule obtained from a natural product.

Aroma-Chology® – A science, developed by the Sense of Smell Institute, dedicated to the study of the interrelationship between psychology and the latest in fragrance technology to elicit a variety of specific feelings and emotions... relaxation, exhilaration, sensuality, happiness and well-being.

Aromatherapy – In brief, aromatherapy is the use of volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical wellbeing. The therapeutic use of pure essential oils and herbs in body massage, the result of which is described by proponents as “healing, beautifying and soothing” the body and mind, has its roots in the folk medicine practiced in primitive cultures. The history of aromatherapy stretches as far back as 6,000 years ago in ancient Egypt. It wasn’t until the 1920’s, however, when the term was actually coined by a French chemist, R.M. Gattefosse.

Attar (Otto) - From the ancient Persian word "to smell sweet." Attar or otto refers to essential oil obtained by distillation and, in particular, that of the Bulgarian rose, an extremely precious perfumery material.

Axon - The part of a nerve cell that conducts impulses away from the body of the cell.

 

© 2010 The Fragrance Foundation.

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