28 Essential Perfume Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published March 25, 2024

Perfume can smell differently on two different people due to each person's unique skin chemistry._[4]
Eau de toilette has a perfume concentration of about 10%, while eau de parfum has about 15%. Perfumes that are actual Parfum have a concentration of over 20%._[4]
The best time to apply perfume is after a shower or after applying non-scented lotion. The more hydrated the skin is, the longer the scent will stay on._[14]
Apply perfume on the pulse points of the body, such as neck, wrists, and back of the knees. These spots emit more heat that activates and maximizes a perfume's scent._[14]
Avoid rubbing wrists together after applying perfume. This will dull the top notes of the perfume. Experts suggest dabbing instead of rubbing._[14]

Tapputi is mentioned in a cuneiform tablet dated to around 1200 BC in Babylonian Mesopotamia

The world's first female chemist and perfumer is known as Tapputi, who lived in Mesopotamia around 3,200 years ago. On clay tablets, she is described distilling a mixture of flowers, oil, calamus, cypress, myrrh, and balsam._[13]
To correct over-application of perfume, dip a cotton ball in alcohol and apply on the perfumed areas._[14]
Perfumes are composed of three layers known as top, middle, and base notes._[4]
The process of removing aromatic compounds from an object is known as maceration. An object is soaked in a liquid solvent, such as alcohol, to remove the scent._[4]
The rarest scent in the world is orris butter. Favored by the 16th-century Italian noblewoman Catherine de Medici, the perfume is made from the rhizomes of the iris plant. Some varieties cost more than gold._[1]
The world's most expensive perfume is Shumukh by Nabeel, at $1.29 million. The 3-liter crystal bottle is decorated with pure silver, 18-karat gold, and over 3,751 gems. The scent is a mix of pure Indian agarwood, patchouli, incense, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, pure Turkish rose, and amber notes._[3]
The highest quality roses come from the Rose Valley in Bulgaria. Bulgarian rose oil is named Liquid Gold. It takes about 1,500,000 rose blossoms to make 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of oil._[5]
Becoming a perfumer takes at least 20 years and requires knowledge of chemistry and perfumery._[6]
It takes about 7.5 million jasmine flowers to produce 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of essential perfume oil._[5]

Jasmine is known to alleviate stress and anxiety; it is also an aphrodisiac

Every species of the agarwood tree is on the verge of extinction because it is a popular perfume ingredient._[5]
A valuable perfume ingredient is ambergris, which is whale vomit. Created by the bile duct of the sperm whale, ambergris can cost between $70,000 and $120,000 per kilogram._[5]
Victoria's Secret floral fragrances repel mosquitoes more effectively than a many mosquito repellants._[8]
Marilyn Monroe once revealed that she usually slept in the nude, except for "five drops of Chanel No. 5."_[7]
After Coco Chanel sold her perfume recipe to Jews, she enlisted the help of the Nazis to get it back when it became popular._[7]
One of the most controversial perfumes ever made is "Secretions" by Etat Libre D'Orange. It smells like a mixture of human secretions, including sweat, blood, saliva, and other liquids._[2]
Women who wear the scent of pink grapefruit are perceived to be six years younger on average._[12]
The scent of sandalwood elevates the pulse and contains antidepressant and relaxing qualities._[12]
The perfume "Frites" by Idaho smells like French fries. The Idaho Potato Commission bottled a limited scent edition in 2022 for Valentine's Day._[5]
The perfume "New Baby" by Demeter Fragrance Library is designed to smell like a newborn. Advertised as creamy and citrusy, it took 15 years to develop._[11]
The word "perfume" is from the Latin perfumare, which means "to smoke through."_[9]

Initially, perfume was made from herbs and spices, such as coriander and myrtle. Flowers were not used until much later

The perfume "Jasmine Et Cigarette" by Etat Libre d'Orange is designed to smell like a freshly opened box of cigarettes._[11]
In the movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, the main character is born with a superior sense of smell and goes on a homicidal quest to find the perfect scent._[10]
In ancient Egypt, Nefertum was the god of perfume and wore a headdress made of lilies._[4]