Floral perfumes appeared simultaneously with the birth of perfumery as such: the first fragrances were created precisely from plant materials. Distillates, tinctures, essences, hydrolates and lipsticks were created on the basis of extracts from flowers, however, due to the natural composition, the aromas did not differ in persistence and “purity”. Everything changed with the development of the chemical industry: since the 20th century, aldehyde compounds have appeared in perfumery, which make it possible to modify and stabilize natural floral scents. Chemically enhanced floral fragrances are among the most popular to this day.
Modern perfumery has dozens of combinations of floral fragrances, united in several large groups:
Despite such a wide variety of combinations, the following are the most popular among floral fragrances:
The diversity of flora allows you to create many perfumes with a wide variety of characteristics: a floral scent can be fresh and light, rich and sensual, bold and vigorous – and it all depends on which plant gives the perfume a hearty note.
Rose has long been considered a royal flower, and for good reason: the rich and recognizable aroma emanating from its petals has become the basis for many perfumes. In perfumery, the raw materials of Damascus, Provencal or black rose are most often used – the extract of the latter gives the aroma a tart woody-tobacco shade.
To create perfumes, rose oil or water obtained from flowers grown in Bulgaria, Morocco and Turkey is used.
The clean, cool and expressive scent of lavender often acts as a heart note for masculine fragrances, embodying perfumes whose floral motifs only emphasize strong-willed character traits. Lavender perfume is the choice of strong, reserved people who like minimalism and straightforwardness.
Raw materials for lavender perfume are commonly grown in France, Spain, England and India.
Snow-white jasmine flowers, blooming only in summer, for the preparation of fragrant raw materials are harvested strictly before dawn and only by hand: at this time of day, the aroma of inflorescences is most expressive, and manual collection allows you to keep all delicate petals intact. Jasmine essential oil is highly prized, as perfumers need about eight thousand flowers to make 1 kg of pomace.
The main source of jasmine perfumery raw materials are France, Morocco and India. Jasmine perfume has a rich, sensual scent and intense depth.
Yellow ylang-ylang flowers with a sweet powdery aroma grow in hot tropical climates, mostly in the Philippines and Comoros. Ylang-ylang perfumery raw materials are harvested at dawn, like jasmine flowers, to maintain the maximum concentration of the scent.
The expressive scent of ylang-ylang becomes the centerpiece of oriental, sweet and powdery floral bouquets.
For those who are not too sophisticated in the intricacies of perfumery, it may seem that any floral scent will necessarily be light and airy, but this is not the case: among such perfumes there are often deep, complex perfumes that are not suitable for everyone. If you don’t know where to start when choosing a scent, listen to the recommendations of perfumers: they advise you to choose a perfume according to your age.
For young girls and girls, bright aromas are suitable – for example, floral-fruity. Ripe berries, refined lily of the valley, delicate violet or graceful peony – a mono aroma or a composition with these flowers will complement the airy image of youth.
For young women, sophisticated and elegant fragrances will suit – for example, floral-chypre compositions, floral-musk perfumes with hints of bergamot and green tea, as well as fresh floral-green options. You can dwell on perfumes with shades of lilac or champaka.
For mature women over forty, perfumers recommend paying attention to sophisticated floral-oriental scents, rich floral-aromatic and expressive floral-aldehyde, complementing the image of restrained beauty. Choose a perfume based on jasmine, magnolia or tuberose.
Ladies over fifty will like noble floral-spicy fragrances, woody and fougere versions of perfumes, emphasizing exquisite mature beauty. Deep aromas of black rose, sandalwood, lily and gardenia are the most acceptable options recommended by perfumers.
Of course, these recommendations are conditional: you can choose any perfume with a floral scent, regardless of age and other limiting criteria. Choose a perfume that will delight you – and carry the scent of your favorite flowers everywhere.
