The one of the greatest discovery from antique until nowadays is the production of the incense through the process of burning of natural salves and oils. It had been one of the inventions that have been created for over 100 years. A perfume is the substance that the incense smells that you wear commonly to decorate yourself. Do you ever curious how perfumes will splash out fragrance smell and how does it work out like this? The good production of perfumes required the knowledge in the field of analytical, synthetic and physical chemistry as well. It is all about chemistry. Nowadays, most of the perfumes are in liquid state which made up of the mixtures of alcohol and water and molecules that can easily evaporate at room temperature. Usually, perfumes are in dilution form and when you get dilute perfumes, please do not blame the manufacturers for being stingy. But in fact, perfumes are something aesthetic and the dilution make the different smells so that you able to distinguish them. Imagine how funny if you first smell the sweet smelling as apple and followed by mango and then finished with jasmine. Guess what? These different stages of smell are caused by oxidation. This is known as three notes; the top, heart and base that commonly found in perfumes and at the same time it is an important element too. The most volatile compounds and the initial smell of the perfumes maybe for the first 15 minutes are the top notes. The heart notes is the aroma that will give out the smell that can maintain maybe for few hours. Lastly, the base is the most important part of fragrance that can give out smell for long lasting one whole day.
Everything has pros and cons, so perfumes are also not excluded. Do you ever stick on your perfumes ingredients and pay attention to it whether will it harm your healthy? According to Environmental Protection Agency Material Safety Data in United State, over 20 potentially hazardous materials are used in the perfumes ingredients. If you want to buy a perfume, please bear in mind of these few types of ingredients that will cause the side effect such as acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, ethanol, and formaldehyde.
structural formula of benzyl acetate
Benzyl acetate which is an ester organic compound formed by condensation of benzyl alcohol and acetic acid. It found in naturally especially in flowers with sweet aroma smell which widely used in perfumers and cosmetic product. Furthermore, it has been proved by experiment that it has carcinogens properties. In other words, it has directly linked to the pancreatic cancer.
structural formula of acetone
Acetone is the simplest form of the ketone (CH3COCH3) with colourless form and it is a flammable liquid. Many of the organic materials dissolve in it easily. It always can be found in the cosmetic products and cologne. However, acetone brings the side effect such as difficulties in breathing and drowsiness as well. In addition, it also acts as central nervous system depressant that can cause health problem such as nausea.
structural formula of benzaldehyde
Followed by benzaldehyde is one of the potentially dangerous ingredients in perfumes. Apart from that, it is also known as benzenecarbonal which is the simplest structural form of odorless aromatic aldehydes. It has a narcotic effect of the concentration of benzaldehyde is high. Some people may allergic to benzaldehyde and thus triggers the immune system response such as irritation to skin, eyes and respiratory tract. If there are the symptoms such as sore throat, chest pain and difficulties in breathing after you apply the perfumes, please consult doctor immediately.
structural formula of ethanol
Not to deny that ethanol is also one of the ingredients in perfumes that caused the side effect. Ethanol is a volatile alcohol liquid and in colourless form. It will cause sore throat, abdominal pain, nausea, difficulties in breathing and even ventral nervous system depression.
structural formula of formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colourless chemical that is widely used in building materials or even present in the perfumes. If the appearance amount of formaldehyde which is more than 0.1ppm in the air, it will cause the effects such as skin irritation, nausea, coughing and watery eyes. Through experiment and case study, scientists proved that formaldehyde is linked to the formation of cancer especially lung cancer.
The tips in purchasing perfumes is to remember to look at the ingredients sticker that present in the bottle and try to avoid chemicals like formaldehyde, ethanol, benzaldehyde, acetone and benzyl acetate. At the same time, you may have a try on natural ingredients perfumes.
Reference
1. Howstuffworks Inc© 1998-2010, perfumes [online]
Available from :< http://science.howstuffworks.com/perfume.htm >
[Accessed on 24th of July 2010]
2. Jacob L.Heller, 2010, U.S Library of Medicine, Acetone poisoning [online]
Available from: <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002480.htm >
[Accessed on 24th of July 2010]
3. Material Safety Data Sheet, 1998, Benzaldehye [online]
Available from:< http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/b0696.htm >
[Accessed on 24th of July 2010]
4. International Agency for Cancer, 2010, Benzaldehdye [online]
Available from: < http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol71/mono71-65.pdf >
[Accessed on 24th of July 2010]
5.National Care Institute, 2010, Formaldehyde and the Cancer [online]
Available from: < http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde >
[Accessed on 24th of July 2010]
6.HowStuffWork Inc.,2010, Perfumes [online]
Available from : < http://science.howstuffworks.com/perfume.htm >
[Accessed on 24th of July 2010 ]
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