by Jim Peterson | May 6, 2021 | Uncategorized
Frankincense is a resin that drips down the side of four different species of Boswellia, a small tree found in India, Arabia, and Africa. The resin hardens into translucent pearls, which can be converted into an absolute by extracting with a hydrocarbon solvent, but...
by Jim Peterson | May 4, 2021 | Uncategorized
There are few ingredients that play a more important role in the history of perfumery than oakmoss. True oakmoss is a lichen that grows on oak trees. When it is extracted with a hydrocarbon solvent (usually petroleum ether or benzene) and the solvent evaporated...
by Jim Peterson | Apr 22, 2021 | Uncategorized
I recently put together a chart with the names of flower complexes on one axis and compounds (and some naturals) on the other axis. This allows me to see at a glance the range of amounts of each chemical perfumers use to make flowers. Here, I’m using the chart to...
by Jim Peterson | Apr 13, 2021 | Uncategorized
When rose is used in a perfume, be it in a dedicated rose perfume or another perfume to which it lends support, a synthetic rose is constructed and manipulated to create the particular nuances that contribute to the roses’ final character. In classical perfumery, a...
by Jim Peterson | Apr 12, 2021 | Uncategorized
Whether we like them or not, roses in perfumes are ubiquitous. They support other florals and lend a general sense of body to a perfume. Most rose notes are now added with synthetics, but almost always a small amount of natural rose is added for support. Rose extracts...
