Formulary Section: Sophisticated or Fantasy Perfumes
Introductory
Sophisticated or fantasy perfumes: in other words, this chapter is devoted to what in France is quite simply called 'la Grande Parfumerie'. A difficult task faces us here, in that we must seek to hold the interest of the reader without exposing ourselves to charges of revealing too much or breaching confidences. This is a particularly delicate situation when currently fashionable perfumes are the subject of discussion.
We shall restrict ourselves to being as objective as possible, but in so doing will offer guides to creation and some formulae, as examples, to facilitate basic research.
Perfumes of Fantasy (as we may call them for want of a better name) are roughly divisible into six categories:
Floral perfumes
Aldehydic perfumes
Chypre types
Oriental types
Green types
Perfumes with a distinguishing dominant note.
These types may and do, of course, overlap. And, independently of the notes that characterise perfumes in each separate category, the tonality also plays an important part. This may be, in each group, one of three, namely light, medium and heavy.
Before quoting examples of these different groups, we give formulae for certain bases, both of a general and more specific nature, that can be utilised in a variety of formulae, just as can many of the floral bases already discussed in the previous chapter. Here is a representative of the very interesting bergamot-vanilla bases:
Bergamot-Vanilla Base
Bergamot oil |
100 |
Vanillin |
5 |
Aldehyde C.12 (MNA) 10% |
1 |
Aldehyde C.8, 10% |
0.3 |
In the formula that follows the cedrat oil, once a natural product, may be replaced by the now conventional artificial blend of lemon, bergamot and orange oils.
Aldehydic base A.1
Aldehyde C.8 |
0.50 |
Aldehyde C.9 |
1.25 |
Aldehyde C.10 |
2.50 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) |
1.25 |
Aldehyde C.12 (lauric) |
2.50 |
Aldehyde C.22 (MNA) |
1.50 |
Bergamot oil |
12.50 |
Bergamot oil, sesquiterpeneless |
6.20 |
Superorange (Lautier) 50% |
10.00 |
Supercitron (Lauiter) 5% |
1.90 |
Lemon oil |
1.25 |
Cedrat oil |
3.75 |
Neroli A |
3.10 |
Folia (Bertrand frères) |
0.60 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
37.50 |
Opopanax L.G. (Givaudan) |
1.25 |
Costus absolute |
0.60 |
Musk tincture No.1 |
2.50 |
Rose No.2 |
6.20 |
Sandalwood oil |
3.15 |
|
100.0 |
Aldehydic Base A.2
)
Aldehyde C.12 (lauric) |
1.30 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) |
0.78 |
Aldehyde C.10 |
0.39 |
Vanillin |
1.95 |
Coumarin |
9.75 |
Hydroxycitronellal (Laurine, Givaudan) |
9.75 |
Phenylethyl alcohol |
14.30 |
Rose oil, Bulgarian |
2.60 |
Geraniol 100% extra (Frimenich) |
6.50 |
Beta-si Methyl ionone (Raldeine D |
6.50 |
Benzyl acetate |
4.55 |
Jasim absolute |
3.90 |
IsoEugenol |
6.50 |
Anisic aldeyde |
7.80 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
6.50 |
Linalool ex bois de rose Brazil |
13.00 |
Sandalwood oil |
11.70 |
Dimethyl phthalate |
22.23 |
|
130.00 |
Curacao Base
The 'orange curacao' note is very characteristic and the actual Curacao orange oil virtually unobtainable. For that reason the following formula will often prove useful.
Bitter orange oil (Guinea) |
37.50 |
Bitter orange oil, deterpenated |
7.45 |
Anethole |
4.65 |
Citral |
3.70 |
Coriandrol (from Russian coriander oil) |
2.70 |
Aldehyde C.8 |
2.00 |
Aldehyde C.9 10% |
5.00 |
Aldehyde C.10 |
7.00 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) |
18.30 |
Aldehyde C.12 (MNA) |
3.00 |
Aldehyde C.12 (lauric) |
8.70 |
|
100.00 |
Leather or 'cuir' bases have continued to be popular and widely utilised in perfumery at the time of writing. They are indispensable in certain fashionable perfumes and are particularly of interest in perfumes for men.
Cuir Base C.1
Bergamot oil |
1.5 |
Framboisis (de Laire) |
7.5 |
Coromia (Givaudan) |
40.0 |
Corinal (Firmenich) |
14.0 |
beta-Methyl ionone |
4.5 |
Jasmin No.2 |
2.4 |
Mandarin oil |
1.5 |
Cedrol |
12.0 |
Lilac No.2 |
9.0 |
Musk ketone |
1.8 |
Musk ambrette |
1.8 |
Neroli B |
0.9 |
Coriandrol |
0.3 |
Cedrate oil |
0.8 |
Vanillin |
1.5 |
Dimethyl phthalate |
0.5 |
|
100.0 |
Cuir Base 2
Alliantone (Givaudan) |
14.0 |
Hyacinth absolute (Polak's Frutal Works) |
9.0 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) 10% |
10.0 |
Aldehyde C.10, 10% |
4.0 |
Angelica root oil |
2.0 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
4.0 |
Musk ketone |
3.0 |
Ethyl vanillin |
6.5 |
Costus absolute, 10% |
2.5 |
Birch tar oil. rectified |
10.0 |
beta-Methyl inone |
15.0 |
Ionone extra |
10.0 |
Terpineol |
10.0 |
|
100.0 |
The woody note is often employed in association with other notes, not only to confer its own characteristics but to soften and round off the finished composition.
Woody Base B.1
Linalyl acetate |
27.00 |
Bergamot oil |
12.35 |
Rose de Grasse absolute |
12.20 |
Jasmin absolute |
6.90 |
Bois de rose oil, Brazil |
6.00 |
Lilac No.2 |
5.70 |
Muguet No.1 |
5.25 |
Vanillin |
4.95 |
Coumarin |
4.95 |
Sandalwood oil |
3.90 |
beta-Methyl ionone |
2.70 |
Neroli oil |
1.95 |
Bitter orange oil, Guinea |
1.95 |
Labdanum absolute |
1.20 |
Patchouli oil |
1.05 |
Vetiver oil, Bourbon |
1.05 |
Hyperessence orange (Charabot) |
0.90 |
|
100.00 |
The moss note plays a very important part in perfumery. It sustains the head notes of 'green' compositions, which are currently fashionable; but long before this it found other applications. That great perfumer Roudnitska has contributed significantly to the popularly of the moss note, and perfumers everywhere known the famous mossy base, made by one of the leading synthetic houses and bearing the name of a German province.
The day when oakmoss was first associated with the synthetic odour of isobutylquinoline, was indeed a landmark in the history of perfumery. It opened a new and broad avenue of perfume creation, and especially so when homologous odorants became available to vary the original accord and multiply the possibility of further combinations.
In their basic notes these mossy compositions afford admirable support for special fruity effects, on condition that they are accompanied by a more 'human' note, as it were, such as musk, amber, civet etc.
Moss Base M.1
Sandalwood oil |
10.20 |
Bergamot oil |
10.25 |
Bulgarian rose oil |
2.40 |
beta-Methyl ionone |
9.10 |
Coriandrol |
0.25 |
Jasmin No.4 |
2.40 |
Patchouli oil |
6.70 |
Thyme oil, red |
0.35 |
Vetiver oil, Bourbon |
5.30 |
Ciste absolute |
5.50 |
Oakmoss absolute |
5.30 |
Castoreum absolute |
11.30 |
Neroli A |
0.95 |
Musk ambrette |
0.75 |
Caraway oil (Flebo) |
17.65 |
Superorange (Lautier) |
11.60 |
|
100.00 |
In the following formula readers should note that vetiver acetate does not mean vetiveryl acetate. The former - with its own distinctive odour - results from the acetylation of the oil itself, which naturally involves not only the acetylation of the oil's vetiverol but also that of the other alcohols present in the oil. Vetiveryl acetate, on the other hand, is prepared by the simple acetylation of vetiverol.
Base 1.S
Opopanax L.G.(Givaudan) |
30.0 |
beta-iso Methyl ionone |
13.5 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
7.5 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
2.5 |
Ionone alpha |
5.0 |
Rose Bulgarian oil (10%) |
10.0 |
Jasmin absolute |
5.0 |
Vetiver oil, Java |
1.0 |
Musk ambrette |
2.5 |
Coumarin |
1.0 |
Vanillin |
2.0 |
Base Claveline No.1 |
2.5 |
Muguet No.2 |
10.0 |
Vetiver acetate |
5.0 |
IsoButylquinoline |
2.5 |
|
100.0 |
Moss Base M.2
Sandalwood oil |
16.60 |
Rose de Mai absolute |
3.80 |
beta-Methyl ionone |
4.50 |
Neroli oil |
1.50 |
Jasim absolute |
3.80 |
Thyme oil |
0.60 |
Patchouli oil |
1.55 |
Vetiver oil, Java |
7.60 |
Ciste absolute |
4.15 |
Tree moss absolute |
9.10 |
Castoreum tincture |
2.65 |
Opopanax L |
2.65 |
Musk ambrette |
1.15 |
Tincture of musk |
1.50 |
Bergamot oil |
32.70 |
IsoButylquinoline (5%) |
4.60 |
Supercitron (Lautier) 50% |
0.75 |
Superorange (Lautier) |
0.40 |
Coriandrol |
0.40 |
|
100.00 |
See Chapter 13 of this book, under Green, Fruity and other special notes. In addition to the newer 'green' odorants marketed as pure chemicals, others have been introduced as proprietary bases. In most instances these bases have been well contrived, so as to permit their introduction into standard formulae without causing any undue imbalance or interference. They nevertheless give rise to effects that are quite distinctive and different from those that preceded their introduction. The auxiliary notes so introduced may of course be pleasing or displeasing, but the possibility of producing novel and interesting effects cannot be overlooked.
Moss notes may be more or less 'fruity' in type, according to taste. Moss Base M.2 can very easily be reorientated in this fashion.
A certain number of odorants are capable of suggesting the sea and the open air, faintly suggesting the odour of ozone. Givaudan's Alliantone, Laserson's Aldehyde Mer and Robertet's Absolu Marin are among the products of this type that strike a note of originality and may well introduce effects that appeal to outdoors enthusiasts, the masculine market, and perhaps a still wider market. This type of perfume could well be the subject of tomorrow's success story.
We now turn to the various general types of perfumes indicated in our earlier classification.
FLORAL BOUQUET PERFUMES
Parfum QH No.1
50.00
Lilac No.2 |
Hyacinth absolute (Polak's Frutal Works) |
0.10 |
Aldehyde C.12 (MNA) 10% |
0.25 |
Aldehyde C.12 (lauric) 10% |
0.10 |
Citronellyl lactone (I.F.F.) 10% |
0.05 |
Amyl salicylate |
5.00 |
Sandalwood oil |
1.55 |
beta-Methyl ionone |
5.05 |
Benzyl acetate |
3.90 |
Rose No.3 |
4.00 |
Jasmin absolute |
2.00 |
Cedrat oil |
7.00 |
Bergamot oil |
5.00 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
10.00 |
Musk ambrette |
1.00 |
Musk ketone |
1.00 |
Vanillin |
2.00 |
Ambrophore (Firmenich) |
2.00 |
|
100.00 |
The next flower perfume (A) is characteristic of a kind of bouquet which had a great success at the end of the nineteenth century. As an essential part of its structure it contained a base termed Bouvardia, which had then and still retains a wide acceptance among perfumers. For that reason we first give a formula for a base or this general type.
Bouvardia BM
Ylang-ylang oil |
20.00 |
Geraniol extra |
5.00 |
Jasmin absolute |
3.75 |
Base Tuberone No.1 |
2.50 |
Neroli B |
12.50 |
beta-Methyl ionone |
25.00 |
Bois de rose oil, Brazil |
25.00 |
Hypressence orangeflower (UOP) |
6.25 |
|
100.00 |
Parfum AO
Mimosa flower absolute |
1.7 |
Rose de mai absolute |
3.4 |
Hyperessence orangeflower |
5.0 |
Narcisse des Montagnes absolute(Camilli) |
2.0 |
Base Tuberose No.2 |
4.0 |
Jasmin absolute |
3.4 |
Jasmonone No.4a |
1.0 |
Ylang-ylang oil, Manilla |
3.0 |
Heliotropin |
2.0 |
Acacia 200 (Firmenich) |
8.5 |
Bouvardia BM |
4.0 |
Bouvardia 100% (de Laire) |
3.0 |
Bergamot oil |
10.0 |
beta-Methyl ionone |
8.0 |
Anisic aldehyde |
6.0 |
Methyl anthranilate |
1.0 |
Linalyl acetate |
2.0 |
Ionone alpha |
2.0 |
Ambrophore (Firmenich) 3% |
20.0 |
Civet tincture |
10.0 |
|
100.0 |
The following perfume is distinguished by its association of a lilac type of composition with the atmosphere or the sea.
Parfum TL
Musk ketone |
1.2 |
Rose No.1 |
2.0 |
Hyacinth No.1 |
5.6 |
Lilas Isobutaflor (Robertet) |
7.7 |
Jasmin absolute |
10.0 |
Lilac No.3 |
72.0 |
Aldehyde Mer (Laserson & Sabetary) |
0.5 |
Hyacinth absolute (Polak's Frutal) |
1.0 |
|
100.0 |
Parfum F
Ylang-ylang oil |
12.70 |
Jasmin absolute |
3.40 |
Narcisse des Montagnes absolute (Camilli) |
2.10 |
Lilac No.3 |
21.50 |
Paracetone (Givaudan) |
22.70 |
Gardenia 9058 (Givaudan) |
10.25 |
Heliotropol (Firmenich) |
4.20 |
Jasmin No.4 |
4.20 |
Grapefruit oil |
5.10 |
Bergamot oil, sesquieterpeneless |
3.40 |
Neroli A |
3.40 |
Base Cuir C.1 |
2.10 |
Coumarin |
1.70 |
Bornoia absloute oil |
1.00 |
Rose No.1 |
1.00 |
Pollenol (Firmenich) |
0.50 |
Hyperessence reseda (Charabot) |
0.15 |
Hyacinth absolute (Polak's Frutal) |
0.15 |
Aldehyde C.12 (MNA)50% |
0.05 |
Phenylacetaldyde dimethylacetal 50% |
0.05 |
Cyclopentadecanolide |
0.35 |
|
100.00 |
Parfum HB
Jasmin No.2 |
7.50 |
Bergamot oil |
10.00 |
Lavender oil |
7.45 |
Opaslaunax (Ets: Hasslauer) |
7.50 |
Methyl anthranilate |
6.70 |
Orange oil |
4.10 |
Lilac No.1 |
3.60 |
Rose No.1 |
3.00 |
Methyl ionone |
2.20 |
Jasmin absolute |
2.20 |
Muguet No.1 |
2.00 |
Neroli A |
1.40 |
Claveline Base No.1 |
1.30 |
isoEugenol |
1.30 |
Sandalwood oil |
1.30 |
Heliotropin |
1.30 |
Ambreine S (Firmenich) |
0.80 |
Vanillin |
0.80 |
Coumarin |
0.75 |
Orangeflower water absolute |
0.80 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
0.65 |
Anisic aldehyde |
0.45 |
Cedarwood oil, Virginia |
0.40 |
Merisia (Descollonges) |
0.40 |
Orris absolute P.V. |
0.20 |
Benzyl acetate |
0.20 |
Zdravetz oil, 10% |
0.90 |
Cinnamon oil, Ceylon 10% |
0.40 |
Framboisis (de Laire) 10% |
0.20 |
Peru balsam tincture |
13.00 |
Civet tincture |
13.00 |
Musk No.1 tincture |
4.20 |
|
100.00 |
Parfum AR
Jasmin No.4 |
1.10 |
Jasmin No.2 |
3.95 |
Jasmin absolute |
2.65 |
Rose de Grasse absolute |
1.60 |
Rose No.1 |
2.10 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
1.60 |
Arhenol (Firmenich) |
7.10 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
6.10 |
Daturol (Firmenich) |
0.55 |
Lilac No.1 |
5.10 |
Methyl ionone |
3.60 |
Irophore (Firmenich) |
0.30 |
Bioflor (Synarome) |
6.65 |
Linalool |
2.60 |
Bois de rose oil, Brazil |
1.15 |
Nerol |
0.55 |
Teprene (Synarome) |
6.15 |
Muguet No.1 |
10.00 |
Bergamot oil |
13.00 |
Aldehydic Base A1 |
3.20 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) 10% |
0.40 |
Oakmoss absolute dècolorèe (Robertet) |
1.10 |
Cyclopentadecanolide 1% |
0.80 |
Vanillin |
0.55 |
Musk ketone |
1.20 |
Musk ambrette |
1.10 |
Heliotropin |
0.95 |
Civet tincture |
3.70 |
Musk No.1 tincture |
3.20 |
Vanilla tincture |
5.25 |
Castoreum tincture |
1.10 |
Cuir Base C.1 |
0.80 |
Castoreum Anhydrol (Givaudan) 1% |
0.80 |
|
100.00 |
ALDEHYDIC PERFUMES
Parfum VN
Bergamot oil |
5.30 |
Bitter Orange oil |
4.25 |
Aldehydic Base A2 |
3.00 |
Ambreine S (Firmenich) |
3.25 |
Methyl ionone |
4.25 |
Cinnamic aldehyde |
340 |
Jasmin de Provence (Descollonges) |
3.00 |
Petitgrain oil, French |
2.20 |
Jasmin absolute |
2.20 |
Sophora (Givaudan) |
2.80 |
Lavender |
1.40 |
Neroli |
1.15 |
Jonquil absolute (Charabot) |
0.50 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
2.70 |
Sandalwool oil |
0.60 |
Benzoin Gomodor (UOP) |
0.60 |
Opopanax vrai resine (Hasslauer) |
3.00 |
Elemi resinoid |
2.00 |
Rose No.1 |
2.20 |
Civet tincture |
30.60 |
Musk tincture |
12.45 |
Peru balsam tincture |
5.15 |
Castoreum tincture |
4.00 |
|
100.00 |
Parfum C
Rose No.2 |
0.40 |
Lilac No.3 |
4.20 |
Jasmin No.2 |
6.70 |
Neroli B |
0.15 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
6.30 |
Terpineol |
3.20 |
Cinnamic alcohol ex styrax |
0.50 |
Methyl ionone |
3.20 |
Amarante (Givaudan) |
5.00 |
Oakmoss absolute |
1.25 |
Opopanax L |
3.75 |
Base 1.S. |
2.60 |
Liquidambar II |
0.10 |
Mousse de Saxe (de Lair) |
5.00 |
Thyme oil |
0.30 |
Vetiver oil, Java |
1.90 |
Patchouli oil |
3.00 |
Sandalwool oil |
3.00 |
Coriander oil, Russian |
4.00 |
Cedrat oil |
1.00 |
Bitter Orange oil |
2.00 |
Lavender oil |
3.00 |
Bergamot oil |
10.00 |
Linalyl acetate |
5.00 |
Ambreine S (Firmenich) |
4.50 |
Dimethyl phthalate |
0.60 |
Ethyl vanillin |
0.80 |
Musk ketone |
0.50 |
Musk ambrette |
1.00 |
Cyclopentadecanolide |
3.00 |
Coumarin |
3.00 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) |
0.42 |
Aldehyde C.12(lauric) |
0.36 |
Aldehyed C.12 (MNA) |
0.27 |
Tincture of civet |
1.50 |
Tincture of castoreum |
8.50 |
|
100.00 |
Fairly frequent reference is made in these formula to the natural resin, Liquidambar. This balsamic product of very dark bituminous aspect is not used as such but is appropriately treated to yield three different fractions. The first of these has the strongly 'grassy' styrene odour; the second has a labdanum odour and an 'animal' note; while the third has the animal note in an even more marked degree. In fine perfumery only the second and third fractions are normally used; and these are referred to in the various formulae as Liquidambar II and Liquidambar III.
Treatment of raw materials in this way may be carried out in the perfumery laboratories if they happen to include a suitable chemical laboratory adequately staffed. Alternatively, arrangements can often be made with an outside laboratory to carry out this and other collaborative work.
Parfum SP
Opopanax L |
2.20 |
Opopanax 18 (de Laire) |
0.90 |
Cyclamen aldehyde |
0.10 |
Amyl salicylate |
0.25 |
Costus resinoid (Camilli) |
0.15 |
Bergamot oil |
3.20 |
Patchouli oil |
2.40 |
Grisambrol (Firmenich) |
0.80 |
Labdanum oil (Schmoller) |
0.25 |
Moss Base M2 |
0.40 |
Oakmoss absolute superessence (Yugoslav) |
0.90 |
Liquidambar II |
0.05 |
Mousse 1026 (Roure Dupont) |
2.15 |
Musk BRB (Rhône-Poulenc) |
0.10 |
Musk ketone |
0.60 |
Cyclopentadecanolide |
0.15 |
Ethyl vanillin |
0.10 |
Thibetine (Givaudan) |
0.60 |
Animalis (Synarome) |
0.30 |
Civette RP No.2(Rohône-Poulenc) |
0.10 |
Elecampane oil |
4.50 |
Sandalwood oil |
0.20 |
Methyl ionone |
3.20 |
Jasmonone No.4 |
5.70 |
Gardenia 9058 (Givaudan) |
19.70 |
Gardenia No. 1 |
4.50 |
Gardamon oil, Naardenised (Naarden) |
0.25 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
2.40 |
Corona (Roure Dupont) |
1.70 |
Hyacinth absolute (Polak's Frutal) |
1.60 |
Phenylacetaldehyde |
0.05 |
Camomile absolute (Schmoller) |
0.15 |
Lavender oiol, Barrême (42% esters) |
1.30 |
Linalool ex bois de rose |
4.50 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
0.25 |
Styrallyl acetate |
2.10 |
Aldehyde C.8 |
0.10 |
Adehyde C.9 |
0.10 |
Aldehyde C.10 |
0.60 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) |
0.60 |
Aldehyde C.12 (lauric) 50% |
0.70 |
Opopanax resin tincture |
6.30 |
Peru balsam tincture |
2.00 |
Vanilla tincture |
1.10 |
Castoreum tincture |
2.70 |
|
100.00 |
CHYPRE TYPES
Chypre perfumes have always found great favour among women and, indeed, among men. Witness the famous Chypre of Coty, about which and its constituents so much has been written.
Characteristic of the Chypre odour, in addition to its conventional notes of bergamot, oakmoss, civet, linalyl acetate, amyl salicylate, rose, neroli, vetiver, sandalwood, labdanum and the little rustic or herbal notes of red thyme, tarragon and basil, etc.... is a note of safrole or isosafrole. Others will see in this very special note, which assures the perfume's success, a celebrated composition of the German firm Heine, known under the name of Product EM and probably based on oakmoss, labdanum, liquidambar, linalyl acetate - and various floral elements.
Many Chypre variants have been introduced each, with its slightly different note or emphasis which distinguish it from the other members of its class.
When a perfumery house lacks imagination enough to devise a really new perfume. It tends to fall back on a 'special' Chypre; this being a more or less safe bet, in that it is most unlikely to prove an abject failure. This 'policy of the least effort' provoked Maurice Chevron to remark: 'It is simply beef steak.' During the past few years aldehydic chypres have made headway. The following examples are given as typical of this class.
Pafum C.2
Rose No.1 |
1.80 |
Ysminia (Firmenich) |
15.00 |
Jasmin absolute |
15.00 |
Oakmoss absolute superessence, Yugoslav (Schmoller) |
0.60 |
Bergamot oil |
4.20 |
Oakmoss absolute (Camilli) |
4.35 |
Jasmin No.1 |
4.00 |
Geranium sur rose oil |
1.80 |
Methyl ionone |
11.30 |
Vetiver oil |
3.60 |
Sandalwool oil |
1.30 |
Linalool ex bois de rose |
1.80 |
Dianthine (Firmenich) |
7.60 |
Eugenol |
0.75 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
0.75 |
Gardenia 9058 (Givaudan) |
4.00 |
Costus absolute 10% |
2.10 |
Mace oil |
0.15 |
Florizia (Firmenich) |
3.15 |
Tincture of Musk, 3% |
7.60 |
Tincute of Civet, 3% |
1.00 |
Musk ambrette |
0.70 |
Musk ketone |
1.40 |
Coumarin |
0.30 |
Vanillin |
0.15 |
Aldehyde C.10, 1% |
0.80 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecyclenic) 1% |
1.20 |
Aldehyde C.12 (MNA) 10% |
3.60 |
|
100.00 |
This is typical of Aldehydic Chypre. The following Chypre Base is also, in its way, very characteristic.
Base Chypre H
Coumarin |
8.70 |
Vanillin |
4.60 |
Ethyl vanillin |
2.90 |
Heliotropin |
1.80 |
Methyl ionone |
1.20 |
Musk ketone |
0.75 |
Rose H |
0.60 |
Orange oi, bitter, Guinea |
4.50 |
Geraniol extra |
2.90 |
Bois de Rhodes oil (Chiris-UOP) |
1.00 |
Noisette (de Laire) |
0.20 |
Sandalwood oil |
2.80 |
Benzoin Supergomodor (Chiris-UOP) |
0.45 |
Liquidambar II |
2.90 |
Labdanum Clair (Lautier) |
5.80 |
Linalool ex bois de rose Cayenne |
0.75 |
Linalyl acetate ex bois de rose |
2.90 |
Terpinyl acetate |
8.80 |
Benzyl acetate |
2.90 |
Vetiver acetate |
0.09 |
Estragon (tarragon) oil 5% |
0.54 |
isoButylquinolin 5% |
0.75 |
Ysminia (Firmenich) |
1.20 |
Bergamot oil, sesquiterpeneless |
34.97 |
Bergamot oil |
6.00 |
|
100.00 |
Parfum MD
Opopanax L |
2.60 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
2.60 |
Cyclamen aldehyde |
0.40 |
isoButyl salicylate |
1.70 |
Costus oil |
0.90 |
Bergamot oil |
4.22 |
Cyclosia Base (Firmenich) |
2.00 |
Patchouli oil |
18.10 |
Vetiverol |
4.82 |
Jasmin No.1 |
4.23 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
5.07 |
Muguet No.1 |
4.22 |
Paracetone (Givaudan) |
4.22 |
Lavender oil |
1.70 |
Hyacinth absolute (Polak's Frutal Works) |
0.45 |
Cardamine (Synarome) |
4.22 |
Gardenia No.1 |
6.07 |
Galbanum oil (Robertet) |
1.70 |
Oakmoss absolute superessence (Schmoller) |
2.60 |
Base Tuberose No.1 |
0.85 |
Rose No. 2 |
0.45 |
Cardamon oil |
1.70 |
Ambre 83 (de Laire) 10% |
0.85 |
Grisambrol (Firmenich) |
2.25 |
Ethyl vanillin |
0.45 |
Musk ketone |
4.22 |
Musk BRB (Rhône-Poulenc) |
0.85 |
Coumarin |
3.37 |
Cyclopentadecanolide |
0.90 |
Civettone (Firmenich) 100% |
0.90 |
Musk ambrette |
4.22 |
Ambrophore (Firmenich) |
2.87 |
Animalis (Synarome) |
2.15 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) |
1.70 |
Aldehyde C.12 (lauric) |
0.45 |
|
100.00 |
The number of chypre variations is very great and it would be impossible for us to offer examples of a comprehensive range of them in the necessarily restricted space available to us. The following, however, reveals the incorporation of distinctively 'animal' note in a chypre base.
Chypre I.D.
Oakmoss absolute hyperessence (Charabot) |
0.30 |
Jasmin absolute |
0.90 |
Musc VH (Ets. Hasslauer) 10% |
20.15 |
Musc baume epure (Payan & Bertrand)10% |
10.00 |
Ambergris tincture |
18.80 |
Civet tincture |
29.00 |
Musk ketone |
0.30 |
alpha-Methyl ionone |
0.90 |
Sandalwood oil |
0.40 |
Vetiver oil |
0.90 |
Bergamot oil |
4.75 |
Rose No.3 |
3.75 |
Bouvardia CNC (Firmenich) |
4.75 |
Carrot Clair (Lautier) 10% |
2.05 |
Celery Clair (Lautier) 10% |
1.25 |
Tobacco W (I.F.F.) |
0.55 |
Aldehyde C.11 (undecylenic) 10% |
0.25 |
Cyclopentadecanolide 1% |
0.15 |
Orange oil superdèterpenèe (Charabot) |
0.35 |
Celery seed oil |
0.35 |
Angelica root oil |
0.15 |
|
100.00 |
The following formula is for a modified chypre perfume with a peach type of top note.
Parfum V.W.
Ysminia (Firmenich) |
3.00 |
Wardia (Firmenich) |
2.00 |
Benzyl acetate |
9.00 |
Orange oil, sweet |
3.00 |
Jasmin absolute |
1.25 |
Vetiveryl acetate |
4.50 |
Cedryl acetate (Givaudan) |
4.00 |
Sandalwood oil (Mysore) |
2.50 |
Lavender oil, Barrême 42% esters |
6.00 |
isoEugenol |
1.75 |
Amyl salicylate |
1.50 |
Bergamot oil |
12.00 |
Lemon oil, Guinea |
3.50 |
Methyl ionone |
5.00 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
3.50 |
Oakmoss decolorèe (Robertet) |
3.50 |
Patchouli oil |
2.50 |
Petitgrain oil, paraguay |
4.00 |
Indole |
0.15 |
Citral |
0.50 |
Aurantiol |
4.00 |
Dimethyl benzyl carbinol |
3.00 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
3.00 |
I-citronellol |
2.00 |
Geranium extra |
2.50 |
Fennel oil |
0.75 |
Black pepper oil |
0.75 |
Coumarin |
2.60 |
Musk ketone |
1.50 |
Civettone |
0.20 |
Ambrettozone (Haarmann & Reimer) |
0.40 |
Ambrarome Absolute (Synarome) |
0.25 |
Clove bud oil |
0.30 |
Aldehyde (pseudo) C.18, 10% |
0.40 |
Aldehyde (pseudo) C.16, 10% |
0.20 |
Aldehyde C.14 ('peach'), 10% |
5.00 |
|
100.00 |
ORIENTAL PERFUMES
The principle underlying the creation of so-called oriental perfumes is to utilise balsams and resins of all kinds as the base, e.g. Perue balsam, benzoin, opopanax, olibanum, labdanum, etc., accormpanied by musk and civet, etc., natural and artificial. The conventional crystalline 'fixatives' are also used according to taste. The desired objective is to obtain a perfume with warm and even seductive tonalities. The typically oriental base is 'floralized' by means of heady flower odours such as jasmin, tuberose, magnolia, gardenia, honey-suckle, syringa, etc.
Due note must be taken of the fact that all the basic raw materials are heavy in character and slow to be released into the atmosphere. It is, therefore, necessary to use, with them, a sufficiency of citrus type oils, etc., acetates and other synthetics of a light nature, in order to entrain and disperse them.
By way of example we give a base that may serve as a starting point for these types of perfume.
Base S.H.
[tr
Tonka beans hyperessence (Charabot) |
1.75 |
Peru balsam rectified (Hasslauer) |
3.30 |
Castoreum anhydrol (Givaudan) |
2.55 |
Ethyl vanillin |
2.20 |
Bergamot oil |
51.25 |
Orange oil, bitter (Guinea) |
8.70 |
Orange oil, sweet |
8.70 |
Lavender oil, Barrême |
4.40 |
]Ondatrol (Descollonges) |
0.75 |
Linalyl acetate ex shiu oil |
16.40 |
|
100.00 |
Here is another oriental pefume:
Parfum J
Coriandrol (Robertet) |
10.85 |
Vetyrisine (Firmenich) |
7.30 |
Opaslaunax (Hasslauer) |
7.30 |
Humuscol (Descollonges) |
5.82 |
Vanillin |
3.90 |
Heliotropol (Firmenich) |
0.35 |
Coumarin |
3.65 |
Sandalwool oil |
3.65 |
Lavender oil, Barrême, 40% esters |
3.65 |
Bergamot oil |
3.65 |
Coriander oil, U.S.S.R. |
2.91 |
Gardenia 9058 (Givaudan) |
3.65 |
Neroli |
2.54 |
Supercuracao (Lautier) |
2.59 |
Clary sage (Chiris-UOP) |
1.48 |
Jasmin absolute |
1.48 |
Patchouli oil |
0.74 |
Musk ambrette |
0.74 |
Ylang-ylang oil |
0.37 |
Rose No.1 |
0.37 |
Wintergreen oil |
0.14 |
Peru balsam rect. (Hasslauer) |
2.50 |
Cyclopentadecanolide |
0.92 |
Anhydrol Castoreum (Givaudan) |
0.37 |
Civettone 100% |
0.37 |
Musk tincture No.1 |
28.71 |
|
100.00 |
'GREEN' PERFUMES
For some years there has been a growing demand for perfumes with a more or less pronounced note of greenery or verdure. It could of course be said that the original perfumes with a type of green note were the ferns or fougères, led by the famous Fougère Royale of Houbigant, created by Paul Parquet around 1880-1882. Other fougères were quick to follow, and all helped to popularize the fern note, which is really one of forest trees and undergrowth rather than a truly green leaf note.
Towards 1920 or perhaps a little later appeared, under one of the more modest brand names, Parfums Ybry, a very green type of hyacinth-based perfume. Some years after this came Schiaparelli's Shocking, with its lightly green note superimposed on a very powdery base. Still later (1930-32) Houbigant tried to launch a green type of perfume under the name Festival. But it was still too soon to anticipate success in this direction. A little later, however, Carven came out with Ma Griffe and this, with its truly green note, proved to be a great success. After this came a profusion of 'green' perfumes, and the fashion still endures.
Her is a hyacinth-green base which can be of considerable service in the creation of green perfumes.
Hyacinth Green Base No. 10
Hydroxycitronellal (Cyclosia,Firmenich) |
3.60 |
Phenylethyl acetate |
1.80 |
Phenylethyl alcohol |
43.00 |
isoEugenol |
3.50 |
Cinnamic alcohol |
16.66 |
Phenylacetaldehyde 50% |
0.85 |
Phenylacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal |
0.50 |
Folial (Firmenich) |
0.05 |
Hyacinth absolute (Polak's Frutal) |
1.25 |
Benzyl acetate |
1.80 |
Phenylethyl formate |
0.50 |
Terpineol |
3.10 |
Rhodinol |
1.20 |
alpha-Amylcinnamic aldehyde |
0.30 |
Paracetone (Givaudan) |
0.20 |
Rose No.2 |
0.06 |
Jasmin absolute |
0.20 |
Hosaldeine (de Laire) |
0.79 |
Framboise 2222 (Firmenich) 10% |
0.24 |
Dimethyl phthalate |
20.40 |
|
100.00 |
The green note is rather more restrained in the formula that follows:
Parfum P No. 2
Jasmin No.1 |
12.65 |
Jasmin absolute |
5.60 |
Lilac No.3 |
22.90 |
Vetiver oil, Java |
2.45 |
Orangeflower No.4 |
4.95 |
Rose No.1 |
4.95 |
Narcisse des Montagnes absolute (Camilli) |
4.95 |
Methyl cinnamate |
2.40 |
Phenylacetaldehyde |
2.45 |
Nardcissus No. 2 |
25.65 |
Phenylacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal |
0.26 |
Vert de Lilas (de Laire) |
0.94 |
Coumarin |
3.70 |
Musk ketone |
1.20 |
Oakmoss absolute, Yugoslav,Superessence (Schmoller) |
3.75 |
Liquidambar II |
1.20 |
|
100.00 |
Other suggestions on the subject of green notes are to be found in Chapter 14.
DOMINANT NOTE TYPES
These are perfumes which have a well-defined characteristic note produced by a specific synthetic odorant or a group of two or three odorants, natural or synthetic.
It is easy enough to obtain in perfumery what, in painting, one terms a grisaille: in other words a soulless overall tint, which shades off into a heavy and nondescript mist. To avoid this one experiments with a restricted number of odorants in order to arrive at a note that is at once novel and, as we have said, well defined.
Here is a formula in which the dominant note is formed by an accord of four principal odorants: ambergris, Arhenol, boronia and cassis:
Parfum D
Bornia absolute oil(Plaimer) |
3.75 |
Cassis bud absolute incolore |
3.00 |
Oakmoss absolute incolore |
2.50 |
Jasmin absolute Butaflor (Robertet) |
1.25 |
Vetiver oil, naardenised (Naarden) |
7.38 |
Carrot oil, naardenised |
0.07 |
Paracetone (Givaudan) |
9.80 |
Benzoin Supergomodor (Chiris-UOP) |
2.00 |
Rose No.1 |
1.87 |
Cinnamon oil, naardenised (Naarden) |
1.25 |
Clary sage oil, naardenised |
3.50 |
Clary sage oil, natural |
3.50 |
Sandalwood oil |
4.00 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
4.50 |
Arhenol (Firmenich) |
4.50 |
Pollenol (Firmenich) |
3.00 |
Ambrarome (Firmenich) |
7.38 |
Ondatrol (Descollonges) |
3.50 |
Alcohol C.11 (undecylenic) |
0.62 |
Aldehyde C.10, 10% |
0.03 |
Linalool ex bois de rose Brazil |
3.75 |
Bergamot oil, sesquiterpeneless |
15.50 |
Mandarin oil |
0.75 |
Moskene (Givaudan) |
0.25 |
Ethyl vanillin |
2.50 |
Benzyl acetate |
2.25 |
Opopanax tincture |
4.00 |
Castoreum tincture |
3.60 |
|
100.00 |
The ambergris note
When it comes to using this composition for preparing a perfume of chosen concentration, the quantity of tincture of ambergris that should be added, is calculated in the proportion of 100 parts of the concentrate to 73.5 parts of ambergris tincture - with the balance made up of perfumery alcohol. As an example, suppose that what is wanted is a perfume containting 15 per cent of concentrate. Then to 15 parts of the concentrate we add 11 parts of tincture of ambergris, and complete the formula by adding a sufficiency of alcohol at 95o to arrive at a total volume of 100 parts.
Tincture of ambergris at 3 per cent concentration may be replaced by much less expensive synthetics: vide the section on Animal Notes in the chapter on synthetic odorants. In this particular case excellent results, possibly even superior to those yielded by the natural product, may be obtained with a 3 per cent tincture of Ambergris Synthètique (Givaudan).
Another example of a formula in this category may be given:
Parfum BM
Arhenol (Firmenich) |
5.40 |
Sophora (Givaudan) |
20.00 |
Cattleya (Givaudan) |
3.60 |
Jonquille alpha (de Laire) |
6.00 |
Hydroxycitronellal |
23.00 |
Orangeflower A |
0.30 |
Folia (Bertrand fères) |
2.00 |
Methyl ionone |
1.00 |
Paracetone (Givaudan) |
3.00 |
Cinnamic alcohol ex styrax |
9.78 |
Benzyl acetate |
2.00 |
Linalyl acetate |
4.00 |
Phenylethyl alcohol |
0.80 |
Rose No. 1 |
3.20 |
isoEugenol |
0.80 |
Citral |
0.40 |
Orange oil, bitter |
4.00 |
Orange oil, sweet |
1.60 |
Cedrat oil |
2.00 |
Aldehyde C.12 (MNA) |
0.03 |
Aledhyed C.11 (undecylenic) |
0.02 |
Patchouli oil |
0.27 |
Coumarin |
3.00 |
Ethyl vanillin |
0.80 |
Jasmonone No.4A |
3.00 |
|
100.00 |
The formula for the finished perfume is made up as follows:
Perfume concentrate as above (Parfum BM) |
15 kilos |
Tincture of musk No. 2 |
4 litres |
Alcohol at 95o |
81 litres |
After chilling and filtration one obtains 100 liters of perfume.
Many simple, small-scale chemical processes may be profitably used by the perfumer or his associates. One thinks of the fractional distillation of Virginian cedarwood oil, for example, or the interesting end-product of distilling bergamot oil over oakmoss, just as the larger supply houses have distilled geranium over rose flowers and petitgrain over orange flowers. The separation of a determined portion or portions of a known essential oil can also yield an attractive result. Nothing should be overlooked, in fact, that may contribute a novel and perhaps an in inimitable note to a new perfume.
Manufacturing Processes
No perfume can be better than the concentrate from which it is prepared. Hence the necessity not merely of ensuring the best results in conception and formulation but also of taking every possible care in the selection, purchase and storage of raw materials. A constant standard of quality is essential.
Citrus oils are among those materials which deteriorate relatively rapidly. Stocks should therefore be used up accordingly and any falling off in quality duly noted and acted upon. Storage basements, etc., should be dry, shaded and well ventilated. They should afford adequate protection against normal fire risks. Storage should preferably be in glass, although internally lined aluminium cans provide one of the permissible alternatives. Some oxidation-prone essential oils are often treated on the production site with traces (e.g. 1 part in 20,000) of antioxidants, but the practice of adding such materials should be kept to a minimum and note knowingly encouraged in fine perfumery. First-grade fresh oil is always superior to comparable treated oil.
A few odorants, e.g. myristic aldehyde, should not be stored in the cold. This particular aldehyde tends to polymerise if kept below room temperature.
When weighing-out, the formula may conveniently be typed on a Cellophane-wrapped card and clipped into a holder having a movable wide flat strip, designed to indicate clearly the actual line that is to be wieghed.
Much thought should be given to the containers and other utensils, in respect of the metals from which they are fabricated (e.g. good quality tinplate) and their design (e.g. with spouts for drip-free pouring and bases suitable for use on a steam bath or hot plate.
)
Accurate weighing is essential, and especially so in the case of very small quantities, which may have to be weighed separately on a more sensitive balance or used as a 10, 5 or 1 per cent solution in ethyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, diethyl phthalate or other appropriate diluent. A very serviceable type of balance is one that incorporates a zero resetting device and a calculator which shows automatically, at the end of the weighing, the same total as that shown in the typed formula.
Most mixtures are prepared in the cold, but some require gentle heating to promote thorough solution. Sensitive materials such as flower absolutes and fatty aldehydes should be added only after such dissolving-with-heat has been affected and the blend allowed to cool.
Modern mixing equipment offers many improvements on the old-fashioned hand methods once used in the perfumery industry. The steps that follow comprise the maturation of the concentrate on storage and (in the case of spirituous perfumes) its subsequent reduction or dilution with alcohol; its chilling, filtration and filling into bottles.
Probably the best way of preparing a finished perfume consisting of the compounded odorants known as the perfume concentrate, together with alcohol and water, is to pre-mix the concentrate with an equal quantity by volume of the alcohol, and then to dilute the rest of the alcohol with the proper amount of distilled water, allow to cool completely, and then add the concentrate-plus-alcohol with renewed stirring. This method tends to prevent colloidal precipitation of part of the concentrate, which one gets by adding the concentrate to the main bulk of alcohol initially, or the difficulty in solubilisation that may arise when the concentrate is added last of all.
After the lapse of some 24 hours the alcoholic batch is chilled (-0.4 to -0.6o C) and filtered. Where filter aids are used, as in the case of weakly alcoholic solutions, asbestos wool and diatomaceous earth are preferred to the mildly alkaline magnesium carbonate.
Alcoholic Strengths
As we mention in the chapter on eaux de Cologne, the perfume content of Colognes, eaux de toilette, eaux de parfume and other fancifully named 'dilute perfumes' may range from 3 to 8 per cent, although in some few cases this figure has been found to exceed even 10 per cent. There seems little point in marketing as a toilet water what is, in fact, a perfume - unless its water solubility has been artificially enhanced for the purpose.
Perfumes themselves range from the perhaps old-fashioned 'low' of 10 per cent to 15, 20, 25 and even, quite irrationally, 35 per cent. The alcoholic strength may lie between 850 and 950 Inexperienced perfumers, and some captains of industry in the perfumery world who are not perfumers, seem occasionally to believe that higher perfume concentration means enhanced strength and tenacity. This is not so. Sometimes the tenacity may be slightly increased but, beyond a certain optimum level, the strength is not increased. Indeed, too high a concentration lowers the tonality of a perfume and flattens it out, curtailing its ability to expand. With a very high concentration dull, non-diffusive perfumes result, and one of the most valued properties of a good grade of ethyl alcohol is wasted.
Control
Adequate checking and control methods are of course essential at all stages of perfume production: from the intake and essay of raw materials, through storage and processing to filling and packaging. The variability of certain materials because of batch or climatic deviations, etc., is an additional obstacle in the way of producing a uniform series over a period of time. The perfumer should be closely concerned with the provision and use of standard samples for odour checking and comparison. These standards must be kept in optimum conditions, i.e. where possible in sealed ampoules or under nitrogen. Watch should also be kept on the exact matching of colour shades.
Ethyl Alcohol: Conversion from Gay-Lussac to equivalent degrees Proof, U.S. and U.K., and compared with Percentage Alcohol by Volume
Gay-Lussac(15oC) | % Alcohol by volume (60oF) | Equivalent specific gravity in air (60oF/60oF) | Degrees overproof (U.K.) | U.S. Proof at 60oF (approx.) |
85 |
84.71 |
0.8503 |
48.49 |
170 |
86 |
85.71 |
0.8472 |
50.25 |
172 |
87 |
86.72 |
0.8442 |
52.01 |
174 |
88 |
87.72 |
0.8411 |
53.78 |
176 |
89 |
88.73 |
0.8378 |
55.55 |
178 |
90. |
89.74 |
0.8346 |
57.31 |
180 |
91 |
90.75 |
0.8312 |
59.08 |
182 |
92 |
91.75 |
0.8278 |
60.85 |
184 |
93 |
92.76 |
0.8243 |
62.62 |
186 |
94 |
93.76 |
0.8206 |
64.38 |
188 |
95 |
94.76 |
0.8168 |
66.15 |
190 |
96 |
95.76 |
0.8129 |
69.67 |
192 |
97 |
96.76 |
0.8087 |
69.67 |
193 |
98 |
97.77 |
0.8043 |
71.44 |
195 |
99 |
98.79 |
0.7996 |
73.20 |
197 |
100 |
99.78 |
0.7947 |
74.97 |
199 |
100.2 |
100.00 |
0.7936 |
75.35 |
200 |
Notes:
- Equivalent specific gravities in air at the now standard temperature of 200C are given in the Specific Gravity of Spirits tables published by H.M. Stationery Office, London, 1954.[/l]
- Degrees overproof may also be stated as 'percentage of proof spirit', in which case 48.49, for example, become 148.49.
- It will be seen that the Gay-Lussac figures are in close approximation to those given for percentage alcohol by volume. They are in fact derived from the volume of alcohol measured at 15oC contained in 100 cc of the alcohol-water mixture also at 15oC.
It is fequently necessary to dilute 95 per cent alcohol to 90, 85, 80, 70 per cent or even lover strengths. To determine the quantity of water required to reduce the proof of alcoholic solutions by a definite amount, one divides the percentage by volume of alcohol in the given proof by the percentage by volume of alcohol of the desired proof. The quotient is multiplied by the percentage by volume of water in the desired proof, and from this one subtracts the percentage by volume of water in the given proof. The remainder is the number of volumes of water that must be added to 100 volumes of the given proof to produce a solution of the desired proof. The resultant volume of the diluted alcohol will be the quotient first obtained multiplied by the original volume.
Thus if 13.38 vol. of distilled water are added to 100 vol. of 95 per cent alcohol, the resultant solution will be 85 per cent alcohol.
90 per cent alcohol may be prepared by diluting 947 ml of 95 per cent alcohol with water to 1000 ml.
80 per cent alcohol results from diluting 842 ml of 95 per cent alcohol to 1000 ml.
70 per cent alcohol is obtained by diluting 737 ml of 95 per cent alcohol; 60 per cent by diluting 632 ml, 50 per cent by diluting 526 ml, and 45 per cent by diluting 474 ml to 1000 ml with purified water.
Contraction of volume and rise of temperature occur when ethyl alcohol and water are mixed. The final adjustment of volume, when preparing these dilutions, is therefore made at the same temperature as that at which the 95 per cent alcohol is measured, i.e. about 20o C.