Where does the powdery smell in perfume come from?

The powder smell in perfume will remind people of cosmetics, talcum powder, or soft petals. This silky and dry scent gives people a gentle and delicate feeling.

Most of the powdery spices come from plants, such as irises, violets, vanilla, roses, geraniums, mustard greens, Lingling fragrant beans, etc. However, some artificially synthesized white musk also has a powdery texture.

Today we will talk about these spices with a powdery texture.

1.Iris

Iris essential oil is extracted from the rhizomes of iris, commonly known as iris roots. It smells obviously powdery and earthy, similar to the sweetness of cocoa.

Although there are many types of irises, only German irises, Florence irises, and Fragrant Iris are suitable for extracting essential oils.

Iris roots that have been growing for more than three years should be cleaned, dried, and sliced before being stored for another three years. The essential oil can only be extracted after the internal oxidation of the roots and the significant increase in irisin concentration. 2 tons of dried iris roots can only extract 1 kilogram of essential oil, so natural iris essential oil is very expensive.

Recommended perfume:
— Homme Intense
— Fleur de Peau Eau de Parfum
— Heaven Can Wait
— Dioramour

2.Violet

The aroma of violet is similar to that of iris, with a rich and fragrant fragrance and a soft powdery texture.

There are two kinds of violets commonly used in perfume: Palma and Victoria. The scent of Parma is popular, but Victorian violets have also gradually become popular in this century.

Recommended perfume:
— Earth
— L’Eau d’Issey Solar Violet
— Chance Eau Splendide

3.Vanilla

Vanilla is also known as fragrant orchid. Fresh vanilla pods need to go through standardized processing procedures such as withering, fermentation, drying, and aging to form their iconic rich aroma.

It has rich taste levels, smooth texture, sweet and soft powder texture, and can remind people of cream and ice cream, so it is often used for food perfume.

In addition to perfume, it can also be used in the food industry and pharmaceuticals. In the international spice market, vanilla is second only to saffron in terms of cost and is known as the “king of food spices”.

Recommended perfume:
— Prada Paradoxe
— Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Gold
— Versace Eros
— The Most Wanted Parfum

4.Tonka Bean

Tonka Bean is a seed of a legume tree native to northern South America. The surface of the seed is black with wrinkles, and the interior is brown and smooth.

It emits a scent similar to vanilla and almonds, with a warm and delicate powdery texture, making it a substitute for vanilla. The main component of Lingling fragrant bean essential oil is coumarin, which is often used for food and oriental perfume.

Recommended perfume:
— Arabians Tonka
— The Tragedy of Lord George

5.Rose

Rose has a rich and sweet aroma, with a distinct powdery taste. There are mainly two kinds of roses in perfume – Damascus Rose and Chiba Rose.

Different extraction processes endow roses with different aroma characteristics:

Rose essential oil extracted by steam distillation combines spiciness and greenery, with a fresher and more vibrant style.

The rose oil extracted by solvent extraction presents a rich waxy and honey like texture, with a more mellow aroma layer.

Recommended perfume:
— Rose Tonnerre
— Rose Of No Man’s Land
— Les Sables Roses
— A La Rose

6.Geranium

The scent of geranium is similar to that of roses. It can extract geraniol and citronellol from its stem and leaves, both of which have a distinct rose fragrance.

Pelargonium has high output and low cost. It is often used in perfume to replace or enhance the aroma of roses, known as “civilian roses”.

Like roses, geraniums can also be extracted for essential oil and purified oil through different processes:

The geranium essential oil extracted by steam distillation has a rose and mint aroma and a powdery texture.

Recommended perfume:
— Prada Paradigme
— Love Kills

7.Heliotrope

Heliotrope is native to South America and has a rich aroma and delicate powdery texture, with a long-lasting fragrance and a slight sweetness. Heliotrope can be used to make perfume, soap, talcum powder and cosmetics.
The natural Heliotrope extract is expensive. Later, Simmel Company introduced Heliotrope essence, also known as piperonal, in 1879. The taste of this composite is highly similar to the aroma of natural mustard greens, and its low price significantly reduces production costs.

Recommended perfume:
— Omnia Amethyste
— Pegasus

8.White Musk

At present, the common white musk in perfume is a kind of synthetic musk. It is not a single compound, but a collective term for musk that eliminates dirt and smells clean and soft. White musk can present a powdery, soapy, milky, or woody aroma.

Natural musk originates from the glands of male musk deer, with a strong and complex odor and a strong animal like scent. In 1979, the hunting of musk deer was prohibited, and then the International essence and Fragrance Association banned its use in perfume production. Subsequently, artificial musk technology rapidly developed, with up to a hundred synthetic compounds.

Recommended perfume:
— TBS White Musk
— White Suede
— Chamo