Perfume and other scented things

Plant and animal products have been combined into a wide variety of scented forms. The purposes for this vary from disguising unpleasant odors, to attracting a mate, or to just liking the smell. 

Perfume is the most concentrated form of a liquid scent. Toilet water and cologne are dilute variations. Potpourri is a mixture of naturally-scented plant parts, usually flower petals, seeds, leaves, and bark. Incense is a substance that gives off a scent when heated. These are usually plant resins, either used in their natural state or combined with other substances to increase or change the smell. 

Plant-derived scents may come from any part of a plant flower, bark, wood, seeds, leaves, root, or sap. Most natural scents are volatile and have a definite life-span. Objects that may have held scent at one time rarely do so after many months have passed. 

While perfumes may be simple or complex, they all consist of three principle ingredients the main scent, secondary or blender scents, and a fixative. The main scent is usually potent, and is balanced by the secondary scents added to it. The fixative is a compound that holds the whole thing together. Some fixatives work best for certain scents. The example, the best fixative for lavender scent is orris root. 

Jojoba oil is derived from the seeds of the jojoba tree (Simmondsia chinen-sis), which is grown commercially in Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California. 

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