The classification of scent goes all the way back to Theophrastus in ancient Greece. He was responsible for categorizing many of the perfumes and plants brought back from Alexander the Great’s conquests. While he didn’t actually produce the traditional system of scent classification, he was certainly a good start. Scents that are popular change with every season and time period. Even the traditional system of classification of scent has evolved into a modern scent classification which includes oceanic and gourmand scents that were previously impossible to duplicate with natural ingredients.
Traditional scent classification is fairly recognizable today. They are: oriental, woody, leather, fougere, chypre, and floral. Oriental scents give one the impression of a spicy trip to the Orient. Woody scents evoke forest woodland. Leather scents smell like their namesake. Fougere scents are a mix of fresh herbs and woodland scents. Chypre scents are named after the scents of the Greek isle of Cyprus. Floral scents are everything floral in nature and can be single floral perfumes to multi-floral scents. Most of these scents can be produced from natural components and are available in nature surroundings.
The modern scent classification adds four more scent categories. There is a green scent classification, which smells of grass, juniper, and pine. The oceanic scents smell like the ocean. Citrus or fruity scents are perfumes with these smells. Gourmand scents smell like desserts and have a heavy vanilla background. Many of the newer categories were added because of the use of synthetic chemicals that can now capture and reproduce a smell that was previously not possible. This added to the broad range of perfumes now available for purchase to the general public. As more experimentation continues with the use of scent, we may find that even new categories are added and new scents produced for the mass market.
There is nothing more luxurious than a bath, unless it is a bath with scented body oils. Scented body oils rely on the principles of aromatherapy and natural ingredients, without adding alcohol. They are often made with base carrier oil, like almond or sunflower oil, infused with herbal essential oils and fragrances. They are used to treat different problems from dry skin to itchy scalps. They can come in invigorating scents as a pick-me-up or in calming scents when you need some stress-relief. They not only work on the body, but some people even use them for their hair too.
If you want a soothing bath, you can try to get some scented body oils for the bath that soothe the nerves. Chamomile, lavender, and jasmine scent are all known to soothe jangled nerves. The fragrance of jasmine is also said to have aphrodisiac qualities. Whether you want to relax after a stressful day or set the mood for a sensual night, scented bath oils can do the trick naturally and subtly.
Other scented bath oils may have more invigorating scents. You might have some with rosemary, which also makes a great hair tonic. Rosemary is said to stimulate circulation and improve mental awareness. Citrus and mints can also stimulate the energies and make you feel refreshed. If you are not sure what scented oil is right for which use, read the herbs that are being used and research them.
Other ways to use scented body oils is to use them in place of hand lotions. They are usually light and the skin soaks them up quickly. They can relieve dryness all over the body, even the face. If you have a partner, you can also use them as massage oils to help relieve stress or spark that special mood.
The Egyptians discovered glass at about the same time they discovered essential oil fragrances. The combination of the two ended up being perfume. This began an earnest exploration in the use of plants and other natural elements to produce fragrances that could be used for various ceremonial rituals. Back then the science of fragrance was most closely attuned to what we refer to as aromatherapy today. The fragrance was used to help people get into specific religious moods and to enhance lovemaking rituals. At first, this art was reserved only for those of noble birth and people in the priesthood, but the use of scents to remove the odors of the body became such a boon that it eventually went out to the masses.
The perfume industry came into its own when Alexander the Great invaded Egypt. He sent back numerous new plants and perfumes that were analyzed and classified by a Greek by the name of Theophrastus. He was the first to try and classify the scents and is the basis for the traditional classification of scents we have today.
The traditional classification consists of the following categories: floral, oriental, woody, leather, fougere, and chypre. These were scents that could be derived naturally through the distillation of plant essences or other natural materials. It wasn’t until chemists began to use chemicals to create scents that some newer categories were added that relied on synthetic procedures. These were: green, oceanic, citrus or fruity, and gourmand scents. In the past, citrus scents weren’t long-lasting or concentrated enough to be made into perfumes, although they could be made into bath splashes. With modern science, we are now able to synthesize many scents that were not available to our ancient ancestors. This has also helped to reduce the reliance on animal components like civet, musk, and ambergris, making the synthetic perfumes an ethical and green choice in the end.