essence unseen

Oud:  Perfume Ingredient Scent: Woody, earthy   • This expensive fragrant ingredient is from the wood of the Agar tree found mostly in Southeast Asia. Its aromatic resin is treasured by perfumers for its rare woody fragrance that has complex notes ranging from earthy sweet to slightly spicy. • Oud is one of the most expensive and desireable perfume ingredients in the world. It has an intoxicating musky scent that can be quite potent and has been used for centuries in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.  • Today, many perfumers in the West are using it as a base to create some amazing fragrances for men and women. • Oud comes from the wood of the tropical Agar (Aquilaria) tree, a genus that includes 15 different species. The tree is believed to have originated in the Assam region of India, from there spreading to populate Bangladesh and much of Southeast Asia. • Wood chips off the trees are often burned as an incense, and it's common for them to be use...

Opopanax Perfume Ingredient Scent: Floral, herby • Opopanax, also known as sweet myrrh, is an herb that grows in the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa. The resin is used as the ingredient in perfume and has a balsam scent that is floral and herby. • A wonderful name for a glorious gum resin ingredient that’s smokey and soft, luminous and sensual all at once. (Some people think it smells like crushed ivy leaves.    • Opopanax" originally refers to the gum resin from plants of the genus Opoponax which is used in herbal medicine rather than perfumery. In the early 20th century, the name "opopanax" was misapplied to bisabol in perfumery.    • Nowadays the true opopanax is seldom used and the commercial opopanax is almost exclusively bisabol.  • To distinguish bisabol from the true opoponax, it is often alternatively spelled opoponax, and sometimes referred to as the opopanax of perfumery or perfumery's opopanax.

Osmanthus: Perfume Ingredient Scent: Fruity, sweet • This perfume ingredient is found from a flowering tree native to China and is valued for its fruity apricot-like fragrance.  • This ingredient works beautifully in leathery colognes and floral perfumes like Narciso Rodriguez Iridescent perfume. • White or yellow flowers are hermaphrodite, though usually become unisexual, and have two to four stamens. These showy blooms bear fruits that are bony or hard in texture. * These shrubs are easy to grow and care for. Welcome a tea olive evergreen into your garden for winter interest or in mass as a privacy hedge. Plant them in the fall to encourage root development. These plants have a medium growth rate and will grow up to 24 inches a year.

Orris Perfume Ingredient Scent: Floral, woody • This rare perfume ingredient is derived from the root of the iris plant. It has a heavy floral and woody scent that is described to be clean and refreshing. • Orris is a plant. The root is used to make medicine. Orris root is generally used in combination with other herbs and can be found in homeopathic dilutions and tea preparations. • Historically, orris root was highly prized in the perfume industry. The root develops a pleasant violet-like scent when it dries. This scent continues to improve in storage, reaching its peak in about three years. • Orris root was widely used in face powders and other cosmetics until people noticed it was causing allergic reactions.  • Orris root powder is still used extensively in potpourris, sachets, and pomanders. It even prolongs the scent of the other oils.

Oakmoss:  Perfume Ingredient Scent: Oriental, earthy   • Oakmoss comes from a lichen that grows on oak trees and is a valued perfume ingredient due to its complex scent profile.  • At first, its scent is warm and oriental and then dries down into an earthy aroma that is reminiscent of bark and foliage. • Oakmoss smells earthy, and woody, sensual with hints of musk and amber and is really not like anything else in the perfumer’s ‘palette’ because it also works fantastically as a ‘fixative’ to give scent a longer life on the skin.  • As you might suspect, there’s a touch of damp forest floor to this material, too. • Oakmoss is among perfumers’ most beloved ingredients: an essential element of fragrances within the chypre family.

Narcissus: Perfume Ingredient Scent: Floral, rich • Popular in French perfumes like L’Artisan Parfumeur, this white flower has a strong and rich fragrance. It has a variety of smells that are reminiscent of dark green leaves, musk or even vanilla. • Narcissus flowers are usually white or yellow and are characterized by a narrow, tubular base (hypanthium), three petals and three petal-like sepals (the perianth), and a central cup-like appendage (the corona, cup, or crown) that may be of contrasting color. • Narcissus is mostly native to the Mediterranean region, but a few species are found through central Asia to China. • Without exception, the most common Narcissus species found growing throughout America today were brought over from Europe by the early colonists and distributed westward by settlers from the East. • Narcissus is mainly cultivated in the Channel Isles, the Isles of Sicily, Great Britain and Holland. • Narcissus flowers are available from November to April de...

Musk: Perfume Ingredient Scent: Animalistic, sweet • Natural musk comes from the glands of the musk deer and has an animalistic and slightly sweet smell. Today, most musk perfume ingredients are synthetic since it’s an expensive ingredient with a high demand in men’s fragrance. • For a list of the most popular musk fragrances, read on in the Best Musk Perfumes of All Time guide. • They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. • Musk was a name originally given to a substance with a strong odor obtained from a gland of the musk deer.  • The substance has been used as a popular perfume fixative since ancient times and is one of the most expensive animal products in the world. 

Mandarin: Perfume Ingredient Scent: Citrusy, sharp • Mandarin has an intense and tangy aroma that is fresh, fruity and citrusy. It’s obtained from the mandarin orange that originates from China and can be found in many spring and summer fragrances such as Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Prefume. • Mandarin oranges are citrus fruits that have health benefits due to their vitamin C content. One mandarin provides about a third of a person’s daily requirement of vitamin C and is an easy way to consume this essential nutrient. • As well as being a good source of vitamin C, mandarins contain active plant compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. • However, people must store and handle mandarins correctly to maintain their freshness and taste.

Lily of the valley Perfume Ingredient Scent: Green, sweet • Lily of the valley, also known as muguet,  has a spring-like scent with sweet green notes and hints of citrus. Interestingly enough, lily of the valley does not produce its own oil, so this perfume ingredient is produced synthetically. For more citrusy scents, read on in the Best Citrus Perfumes of All Time guide. • Lily of the valley sometimes written lily-of-the-valley is a woodland flowering plant with sweetly scented, pendent, bell-shaped white flowers borne in sprays in spring. •  It is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe, but is considered generally invasive in parts of North America.  •  Convallaria majalis var. montana, also known as the American lily of the valley, is native to North America.

Labdanum:  Perfume Ingredient Scent: Sweet, earthy • This perfume ingredient is found in the gum of the rockrose bush and is said to mimic the smell of ambergris with it’s sweet, earthy and woody fragrance. Labdanum is used to create leather notes in perfumes. • Labdanum is used for bronchitis and other lung infections, diarrhea, water retention (edema), hernia, tumors, leprosy, and menstrual problems. • It is also used for loosening chest congestion, preventing viral infections, emptying the bowels, and as a tonic and stimulant for the immune system. • Some people apply labdanum to the skin to treat cuts, wounds, aging skin, and skin irritation. • In aromatherapy, labdanum oil is used to relieve stress and to relieve congestion. In foods and beverages, various preparations of labdanum (labdanum absolute, labdanum oleoresin, and labdanum oil) are used as flavoring agents.

Heliotrope Perfume Ingredient Scent: Vanilla, sweet • Heliotrope is a flower with a strong vanilla aroma with almondy undertones. Its scent pairs nicely with other floral notes such as jasmine and rose. These species of flowers are native to Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. • heliotrope, (genus Heliotropium), genus of mostly herbaceous plants in the family Boraginaceae, distributed in tropical or temperate zones throughout the world. The genus has many weedy species and several that are cultivated as ornamentals.  • The taxonomy of the order Boraginales is contentious, and the genus Heliotropium is sometimes placed in its own family, Heliotropiaceae. • One of the best-known members of the genus is garden heliotrope (H.arborescens), a shrubby perennial up to 2 metres (over 6 feet) tall but usually smaller. It has fragrant, purple to white, flat-clustered, five-lobed flowers in coiled sprays, similar to forget-me-nots.

Guaiac Wood Perfume Ingredient Scent: Woody, leathery • This ingredient in perfume is derived from the resin of the guayacan which is a small tree in South America. It has a woody scent that is often used in tobacco and leather scents found mostly in colognes and unisex fragrances. • Guaiac is a tree. The wood and sap (resin) are used to prepare medicinal extracts. Be careful not to confuse guaiac wood or guaiac resin with guaiac wood oil. • People take guaiac wood for muscle and joint pain (rheumatism), breathing problems, skin disorders, and syphilis. It is also used for preventing gout. • Guaiac wood is used in mouthwashes to kill bacteria. In the laboratory, guaiac resin is used in tests for finding hidden blood in urine and stool. • As a flavoring agent, guaiac wood is used in foods and in edible oils and fats.

Frankincense: Perfume Ingredient Scent: Earthy, spicy • Frankincense, also called Olibanum, is a gum resin found in Arabia and Eastern Africa. It has an earthy, spicy and slightly sweet fragrance giving perfumes such as Diptyque Tempo a boost of natural confidence. • Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is made from the resin of the Boswellia tree. This tree typically grows in the dry, mountainous regions of India, Africa, and the Middle East. • Frankincense has a woody, spicy smell and can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or taken as a supplement. • Used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, frankincense appears to offer certain health benefits, from improved arthritis and digestion to reduced asthma and better oral health. It may even help fight certain types of cancer.

Clary sage: Perfume Ingredient Scent: Earthy, floral • The oil found in clary sage has a herby and sweet smell that is used in unisex perfumes and colognes like Banana Republic Slate. This earthy aroma also contains notes of amber and tobacco. • Clary sage, also known as Salvia sclarea, is a plant native to the northern Mediterranean Basin. It is widely used for medicinal purposes and as a spice. • Many parts of the clary sage plant can be used, including the leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. In alternative health practices, clary sage essential oil is used in aromatherapy. • People may use the oil for one or more of its potential properties, including: antidepressant,effectsanti-inflammatory effects,improved digestion,antibacterial effects,stress relief,improved circulation

Benzoin: Perfume Ingredient Scent: Rich, balsamic • This perfume ingredient is a balsamic-smelling resin from the Styrax tree found in Japan. Benzoin gives body to a perfume and usually has a rich fragrance that can smell like vanilla or balsamic making it sweetly seductive. • benzion is the sap (gum resin) that comes from cuts in the trunk of trees that belong to the Styrax family. • Benzoin is used on the skin for ulcers, bed sores (pressure ulcers), cracked skin, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. • Benzoin is used in small quantities in foods as a flavoring. • There is some evidence that benzoin might act as a skin protectant and may also help to break up chest congestion by thinning mucous and making it easier to cough up.

Amyris: Perfume Ingredient Scent: Sweet, woody • Amyris is a genus flowering plant found in Haiti or South America that has a sweet and woody fragrance. It is commonly used as a cheaper alternative to sandalwood in perfumery since its has a very similar aroma. • Amyris (Amyris balsamifera) is a small bushy tree with glossy, compound leaves and white flowers (see opening image for a detail of amyris flowers) that produce bluish fruits.  • The genus name, Amyris, is from the Greek word, amyron, meaning intensely scented, referring to the strong aroma of the resin from this group of related trees. The leaves, when crushed in the hand, smell lemony.  • Uplifting smell that calms the nerves and heightens creativity • When used in aromatherapy or as a massage oil it is beneficial for congestion, cough relief, and overcoming cardiovascular fatigue • Effective in keeping away insects, like mosquitoes and ticks • Helps rejuvenate and moisturize dry skin and promotes anti-ag...

Ambrette : • Ambrette is a plant. The seed of the plant, typically prepared as a tea, is used to make medicine. Oil from the ambrette seed has a musky aroma. • Orally, ambrette is used for stomach and intestinal disorders such as constipation, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach (dyspepsia), stomachcramps, loss of appetite, and stomach cancer. • It is also used orally for snakebites, headaches, depression, muscle spasms, arthritis, urinary incontinence, anxiety, sexual problems, gonorrhea, fluid retention, heart failure, and lung problems. • In foods, ambrette is an ingredient in vermouths, bitters, and other products. In manufacturing, ambrette is used in perfumes, colognes, soaps, detergents, creams, and lotions. It has a musky fragrance. • This ingredient in perfume is derived from ambrette seeds found in a type of hibiscus plant. Ambrette is commonly used as a substitute for true musk, due to its very similar musk-like fragrance.

Ambergris a perfume related chemical compound: • Ambergris, a solid waxy substance originating in the intestine of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon). • This perfume ingredient is a waxy secretion that is produced in the intestine of sperm whales that ages into a sweet earthy scent. Ambergris is oftentimes produced synthetically as it’s illegal to sell in many countries.  • In Eastern cultures ambergris is used for medicines and potions and as a spice; in the West it was used to stabilize the scent of fine perfumes.   • Ambergris floats and washes ashore most frequently on the coasts of China, Japan, Africa, and the Americas and on tropical islands such as the Bahamas.  • Because it was picked up as drift along the shores of the North Sea, ambergris was likened to the amber of the same region, and its name is derived from the French words for “gray amber.”    • Fresh ambergris is black and soft and has a disagreeable odour. When exposed to sun, air, ...

10 Things No One Ever Tells You About Perfume: • Moisturizing beforehand is a must. Before applying any fragrance, grab your favorite lotion and moisturize the area properly. Perfume diffuses well when applied on moisturized skin, and hydrated skin will hold fragrance longer. • Perfume isn’t great for your hair. We’re all guilty of spritzing a little extra on our hair to reassure ourselves that others (even ourselves) can really smell it. However, we’ve been doing a lot more harm than good. Many perfumes contain alcohol, which can cause dryness if applied frequently. • Rubbing your wrists is a no-no. If you have the habit of rubbing your wrists against each other after spraying a scent, nix the habit immediately. Typically, perfumes are complex combination of top notes, heart notes, and base notes. The top notes are more delicate and fade quickly, while the base notes are long lasting. The friction caused by rubbing your wrists increases the interaction of the fragrance wi...

What should we keep in mind while using perfume? • Perfume needs to diffuse well on the skin so that the fragrance is stronger and lasts longer. Moisturising your skin with a non-fragranced lotion will help achieve this, and also protect the areas you’ve sprayed the perfume on, from drying out. Also, don’t use perfume on your hair – however, tempted you may be to add that extra whiff. The alcohol content causes dryness. • Common sense demands that you keep your perfume bottle tightly stoppered, otherwise the contents may begin to evaporate, and the aroma may also change because of its contact with the air and environment. Avoid going out in the sun directly after spraying on perfumes.  • This is because store-bought perfumes can contain up to 14 different secret ingredients, which are not listed, some of which are chemicals that attract harmful UV rays.  • Lastly, what’s good for some may not be good for others! Secondhand perfume is the new secondhand smoke, and i...

Most expensive perfume ingredients:  • You may have found yourself wondering why your perfume or cologne is so expensive. Some perfume ingredients are very expensive and rare to come by because they are sourced from all over the world. Some of these ingredients are: • Ambergris • Oud • Orris • Jasmine • Musk • Rose • These ingredients can be sourced anywhere from rare flowers to the internal organs of deep sea mammals. The process to obtain these ingredients can be costly and complicated, so they end up being very expensive and in turn increasing the price tag of the perfume you purchase. • The ingredients in perfume are a mix of natural aromatic oils and synthetic chemicals. Each fragrance contains the perfect blend of these various perfume

What are the chemical use in perfume: • Today, perfumes are increasingly made using synthetic chemicals. Oftentimes, scents that occur naturally are reproduced synthetically rather than sourced and extracted. This is because it’s either less expensive to produce or the natural ingredient doesn’t produce its own oil to be extracted. Some of these synthetic perfume ingredients include: • Aliphatic Aldehyde • Calone • Iso E Super • Hedione • Indole • Some natural scents such as musk and lily of the valley can be synthetically made as well. Lily of the valley doesn’t produce its own oil, so the scent must be synthetically made. Musk comes from animals, so the scent can be expensive and complicated to obtain naturally. Synthetic musks were made to make it less expensive to produce and charge on the market.

Perfume related basic information and their odors:   • Perfume is a combination of natural scents, human-made chemicals, and alcohol. Some perfumes may contain more than 100 ingredients. Most quality perfumes owe their scents to essential oils. There are hundreds of essential oils. • They are extracted from certain herbs, flowers, leaves, stalks, roots, or fruits. The most common are lavender, rosemary, patchouli, and sandalwood. • Certain substances that animals give off make perfumes last longer. These include ambergris from the sperm whale, castor from the beaver, civet from the civet cat, and musk from the musk deer. • Perfumes can be grouped according to one or more main odors. The floral group blends such odors as jasmine, rose, gardenia, and lily of the valley. The spicy blend features carnation, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Can you use any essential oil on skin? • Not all essential oils are safe for topical use. Essential oils are extremely concentrated and can irritate your skin if they aren't diluted.  • Oils like bergamot and citrus oils can make your skin sensitive to the sun. Some oils are dangerous in other ways; for example, anise oil can cause circulatory issues if you use it too often.  • Always do your research and read up on any potential side effects before using an essential oil on your skin. • Just because essential oils come from natural sources doesn’t mean they're safe. • If you have symptoms like slow/shallow breathing, seizures, persistent cough/gagging, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation, or eye redness/irritation after using an essential oil, you might be experiencing toxicity. • Rinse the skin where you applied the oil thoroughly and call your local poison control center for further guidance.

What is the best essential oil for stress and anxiety: • Lavender, chamomile, basil, and frankincense are all options. • Rub some diluted essential oil onto your temples or the back of your neck to help relieve stress and anxiety. • You can apply the diluted oil using your fingertips or by saturating a cotton ball and using that to rub it on. • Keep in mind that results are very individual, so none of the above essential oils are guaranteed to work for you.  • The best way to find out what works for you is to experiment or to get treated by an experienced aromatherapist .

Is lavender essential oil bad for skin? • It can be if you’re allergic to it. Lavender essential oil contains common allergens that can cause rashes and skin irritation, even if it’s diluted properly. • To play it safe, it’s better to use lavender oil for aromatherapy instead of for topical applications. • If you want to find out whether you’re allergic to lavender essential oil or not, do a patch test. • To do a patch test, first wash your forearm with unscented soap and dry it thoroughly.  • Then, apply a dab of diluted lavender essential oil to your forearm and cover it with sterile gauze for 24 hours. If there is no burning or irritation, you aren’t allergic.

How to understand about infused oil: Methods : • Learn about infused oils. An infused oil (also known as a macerated oil) is a basic vegetable oil (such as, sweet almond oil, olive oil, grape seed oil) that has been infused with the flavor of a different plant. This is usually done by steeping leaves, flowers, stems, roots, or other parts of a plant, either with heat or for a long period of time. Common infused oils include arnica, comfrey, mullein, and St. Johns Wort. • Study the properties of different infused oils. The most popular types of infused oils include Calendula oil (made from marigold flowers) and St. Johns Wort. Calendula is known for its soothing properties and is used in a variety of beauty products. St. Johns Wort infused oil can be used to treat an array of ailments, including sunburn, nerve pain, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids. Oil infusions are often made from a mix of herbs and flowers. • Make your own infused oils. One benefit of infused oils is that,...

How to recognize essential oils : Methods :  • Learn about essential oils. Essential oils are aromatic compounds housed within plants. Essential oils may be located in bark, seeds, flowers, stems, roots, and other parts of plants. These oils are extracted using a variety of methods and can be used for medicinal, beauty, or culinary purposes. Common essential oils include tea tree oil, lavender, peppermint, patchouli, and lemon. • Study the properties of various essential oils. Essential oils are very useful for a wide variety of health, beauty, and mood-boosting applications. In order to understand essential oils, it is important to get a sense of some uses of different essential oils. Essential lavender oil has excellent calming properties.Essential geranium oil is a good oil for balancing emotions. Essential rosemary oil is great for inhaling when you have a cough or cold.Essential lemon or grapefruit oils are ideal as air fresheners, leaving a fresh aroma in a room. ...

How to use jamaican black castor oil: Methods :  • Massage JBCO into your scalp at night. Since JBCO has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties, it can be an effective treatment for dandruff, dry scalp, and other scalp conditions. Apply a small amount to the roots of your hair and scalp before bed. Spend about 5 minutes massaging it into your scalp, then finish your bedtime routine.You may want to wrap your hair in a scarf to keep the oil from staining your pillow or sheets.Tip: JBCO is safe to use as often as you want. It will take at least 3 times a week to see consistent results, but you can do it as often as daily. • Dip a mascara wand or cotton swab into JBCO for eyelashes or eyebrows. JBCO can help stimulate growth, giving you thicker, fuller eyelashes or eyebrows. Dab the oil onto your eyelashes or eyebrows gently.Wait a few seconds after applying, then wipe off any excess oil with a tissue or clean washcloth.Take care not to drip any oil into your eyes....

How to choose a essential oil for aroma: Methods : • Use lemon oil for a fresh, citrusy aroma. Lemon oil is one of the more popular oils for a range of products, including use as an essential oil in a diffuser. Use a few drops to fill your home with the citrusy sharpness of lemon. Some studies have even shown benefits of using lemon oil to improve your mood or to reduce stress!Use a combination of lemon, peppermint, and rosemary oil for an energizing blend of aromas. • Choose cinnamon oil for a fresh-baked cinnamon roll scent. Cinnamon oil has a sweeter, warmer smell to it than lemon, and so makes a great scent for those dark winter months. Use a few drops of cinnamon oil to make your home smell like you’ve got cinnamon rolls in the oven all day long.Try combining orange, ginger, and cinnamon oils for an amazing fall scent perfect for Thanksgiving. • Go with lavender oil for a calming, floral aroma. Lavender oil may be the most popular and the most common essential oil, but...

How to select perfume storage container: Methods : • Keep your perfume in its original bottle. If you still have the storage container your perfume came in, keep the perfume in this bottle. Do not transfer it to another container, as this will expose it to air. This can cause it to lose some of its smell. • Store perfume in boxes. To best store, you should place bottles in boxes before placing them in storage. Boxes will further protect perfume from things like heat and sunlight. Before placing your perfume in a closet or on a shelf, put all the bottles in a box.Make sure the caps on all the bottles are firmly sealed. You do not want perfume leaking in a box.Decorative boxes can be a fun way to store perfume. • Invest in travel containers. If you want to travel with your perfume, travel containers can help keep it safe. Opt for travel friendly bottles of your favorite perfumes before a trip, especially if you have to fly. If you can't find travel sized bottles, buy an e...