Perfume and fragrances
The word 'perfume' has been derived from the Latin word 'perfumum' that means through smoke. Basically the art of making perfume started in Mesopotamia and Egypt that later on, spread to countries such as Rome and Persia. These days it is common in almost each and every country. The perfume is generally meant for giving a pleasing smell and aroma to the human body. It is composed of essential oils, aroma compounds and solvents.
In the earliest times perfume and fragrances were made from herbs and spices such as almond, coriander, myrtle, bergamot and flowers. In the 9th century an Arabian chemist, Al-Kindi wrote a book that suggested some new components like fragrant oils, salves, aromatic waters and substitutes of costly drugs. The aromatic source for perfume include barks, flowers, fruits, leaves, resins, woods, seeds and more. Animal sources may include honeycomb, musk, civet and ambergris.
The modern perfumes are available in various categories such as citrus, floral, aquatic, fruity and gourmand. They are composed of ingredients such as ginger, sandalwood, rose and water. The modern men and women largely use perfumes and fragrances now, because of the valuable benefits associated with them. The first and foremost advantage of wearing perfumes is that they remove unpleasant odors from the body as they contain many cleaning agents. Secondly, they improve the sense of dignity and heighten our confidence. Thirdly, they boost our mood and provide a feeling of calmness. Hence a world without fragrances is just like a world without music.
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