Since ancient times, fragrances have been used to mask the natural odor of the human body while hunting, to please the gods, or simply to hide the unpleasant smell of sweat.
The earliest perfumes were composed of natural ingredients. Towards the end of the 19th century, the development of modern perfumery began. Natural ingredients still played an important role in it, but chemicals began to be mixed with them.
That being said, many of the “scented” chemicals (as well as many natural ones) are unusual and even disgusting. Here top 7 weird ingredients for perfume... You probably wouldn't want to touch them with your hand.
7. Reindeer musk
Male musk deer have a special pouch on their belly, which is used to spray musk. He attracts females. Perfumers have long appreciated this substance because it enhances the durability of the perfume composition.
Unfortunately for deer, a bag of fresh musk is easier to obtain when the animal is dead. This ingredient was so highly regarded that it was used in all perfumes up until the 1970s. Currently, the musk deer fishing is limited, but deer are raised on farms in different countries, from which musk is obtained by inserting a catheter into a musk bag. True, the animal is not killed, it sleeps under the influence of sleeping pills.
6. Beaver stream
Secretion from the preanal preputial glands of beavers. The beaver uses this substance to mark territory. The smell of the jet has a pleasant resemblance to the smells of wood and leather, and for this it is used in perfumery.
Beaver Stream is also still used as a natural food additive to enhance the flavor of strawberries and raspberries.
5. Ethane sulfide
One of the most powerful chemicals in perfumery. It has a penetrating, repulsive smell of sulfur and onions. Unsurprisingly, this aroma occurs naturally in onions, asparagus and durian fruit. It's amazing what else is in the rose and geranium.
Ethane sulphide is used in perfumery to enrich geranium oil, to give a more natural base scent of a rose, and to reproduce the scent of the sea, as it is one of the chemicals found in the air on beaches.
4. Costus oil
It was a very common ingredient in classic perfumery and was found in popular men's perfumes such as Aramis and Patou Pour Homme. Want to imagine the smell of costus oil outside of perfume? Smell wet dog hair. The real magic of this oil is when combined with other animal-based ingredients such as beaver spray or civet musk.
3. Ambergris
Wax-like intestinal secretion of male sperm whales. Scientists are not entirely sure if ambergris is the result of pathology or the normal functioning of these majestic marine mammals, but it is known that it stinks very much.
After a long exposure, most of the repulsive scent of ambergris disappears. In perfumery, this ingredient is used as a fixer. Even the smallest drop is enough to leave the perfume on your skin for several days.
2. Civet musk (civet)
It is a thick secretion from the glands of the civet, a mammal living in Africa and India. Best of all is Ethiopian civet musk.The powerful and unique aroma of civet will remind you of rotten foods. But in a highly diluted form, it becomes very attractive, with a floral tint.
In the past, civet musk was often counterfeited. The main fillers of the fake product were honey and baby feces. Can you imagine how awful real musk smells?
1. Skatole
There can be no two opinions: skatole stinks. It is a compound found in feces and coal tar. This is the quintessence of the stench, for this skatole was in first place in ranking of the most disgusting components of perfume... It is all the more surprising that it can be found in extremely small doses in jasmine and orange blossom. When combined with indole, skatole helps to give these flowers a bright erogenous scent.