[custom_adv] Since ancient times, humans have been using scents from nature to produce pleasant smelling cologne and women’s perfume. These perfumes have taken many forms, including dried herbs, burning wood or pressed oil. [custom_adv] In modern times, humans use all sorts of scented items daily. Soaps, lotions, candles, cleaning products and, of course, personal perfumes to name a few. They’re so prevalent that it’s easy to forget that these scents had to be manufactured, often through extraction. [custom_adv] To give you a better idea of how perfume is made, we’ll explain the processes used throughout history. We’ll also discuss modern perfume-manufacturing. You might be surprised how much work goes into making your favorite fragrance! [custom_adv] In archaic time periods, perfume makers did not have the ability to manufacture synthetic smells. All fragrances came from the earth in one way or another. Ancient civilizations infused body lotions and water with aromatic flowers and different types of wood. They also burned incense made of spices, like cinnamon and myrrh, and extracted oil from plants. [custom_adv] Before the manufacturing process can begin, the plant and animal-based perfume ingredients must first be gathered (ingredients listed below). Various methods of extracting plant oils have been used throughout the world over time. When early civilizations extracted oils, they typically used the expression method, which we’ll dive more into later on. [custom_adv] In the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Persia, Rome and China, these essential oils were special for more reasons than just cosmetic. They were used to anoint the body or made sacred through ceremonial applications. Perfume oils were also added to water and other liquids for beautification and religious purposes.
