What do peonies, lilacs, lilies, and jasinths have in common? They are all called 'Silent flowers' in perfumery. But what does that really mean?
I first time heard this term at ISIPCA, a university of perfumery in Paris. There are flower scents, that are impossible to extract. Even though they smell divine, they give no essence. Regardless of the extraction process, steam distillation, or extraction with volatile solvents, nothing works.
Since the second half of the 19th century, organic chemistry has enabled perfumers to imitate these 'mute' flowers and analyze their aromatic facets. Therefore, we should not be afraid of synthetic ingredients in perfumery. Without them, we would not be able to enjoy Lilly of the Valley, Honeysuckle, White Lily, Gardenia, Jasinth, Peony, and even Lilac flowers in perfumery. They all do not give any essence, so we can only count on chemists to enjoy their scents in fragrances!
Now, I am curious - what is your favorite flower scent?
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