All-natural perfumes are from botanical ingredients like essential oils, plant extracts, and absolutes. In contrast, chemical-based perfumes are made from synthetic aroma chemicals formulated in a laboratory—these often mimic natural scents.
Natural perfumes typically last one to two years, unlike synthetic fragrances, which can last up to five years. Synthetic perfumes can be richer and denser. This allows perfumers to innovate and create new and complex scents that can be customized and designed to last longer.
Types of perfumes
Here are the types of perfumes available in most stores:
- Parfum is the most luxurious type with the highest concentration of oils, usually around twenty to thirty percent.
- Eau de Parum contains a concentration of fifteen to twenty percent oils. It is strong and long-lasting.
- Eau de Toilette contains five to fifteen percent oils. It is lighter and more suitable for daily use.
- Eau de Cologne has a concentration of two to five percent oils. It is fresh and subtle.
- Eau Fraiche is a scented substance like perfume but is cheaper and contains less essential oil.
- Perfume oils are made of a natural blend of essential and carrier oils.
Let me share an example of a natural perfume. There are references to this perfume in the Bible.
Myrtle
Myrtus communis is a small tree or shrub that grows from 10 to 24 feet and belongs to the guava and eucalyptus families. It is described as the queen of all sweet-smelling bushes in the world, with shiny, dark green, and scented leaves. It is an example of a natural perfume with a history that goes back to the pre-Christian era.
The species has disappeared from Mount Olives but grows in Samaria and Galilee (now in and around Israel). It is believed to originate from the Mediterranean and Middle East, although others place it in Afghanistan and Iran.
Myrtle is a sacred tree for the Hebrew people. Nehemiah 8:15 states that myrtles grew on the hills around Jerusalem. The Talmud (Cuk 34; Yer Cuk 3, 53rd) describes the thick branches of trees as myrtle boughs. Jews regard myrtle as a symbol of sweetness, justice, divine generosity, recovery, peace, and God’s promise. According to Sephardic tradition, myrtle leaves were added to the water during the last (seventh) rinsing of the dead.
During the Jewish festival of Sukkot, people wave branches of myrtle, citron, date palm, and willow. According to tradition, the myrtle branch used during Sukkot should have three leaves that emerge from a stem. Jewish women wore garlands of myrtle on their heads on their wedding day as a symbol of conjugal love.
Today, myrtle is carried with orange blossoms as a traditional bridal flower. In Jewish mysticism, myrtle represents the masculine force at work in the universe. The bridegroom was given myrtle branches before entering the nuptial chamber. Jews still use myrtle as a decoration at the Feast of Tabernacles.
Myrtle blossoms represent beauty, love, paradise, and immortality. According to Christian tradition, myrtle was given to the Virgin Mary as a sacred plant. It symbolized purity and fertility. Myrtle is both the symbol and scent of Eden. According to legend, Adam took a myrtle plant when expelled from the Garden of Eden.
Myrtle oil is extracted from leaves through steam distillation. Its color is clear yellow to greenish yellow. It has a camphor and peppery smell and is used in aromatherapy, cosmetic creams, lotions, and perfumes. The principal constituents of the oil are camphene, cineol, geranial, linalool, pentene, myrtenol, and tannin. The leaves contain flavonoids such as quercetin, catechin, myricetin derivatives, volatile oils, and organic citric and malic acids.
The oil blends well with other essential oils like rosemary, benzoin, bergamot, eucalyptus, black pepper, cedar, frankincense, myrrh, neroli, rose, jasmine, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, coriander, ylang-ylang, and sage. There are two varieties of myrtle essential oil. Green myrtle oil has a camphor pine scent with lavender, bay leaf, and eucalyptus notes. The red variety has a woody, peppery aroma. The scents of both varieties provide a top note lasting about 30 minutes.
In ancient Egypt, myrtle symbolized the eternal life of the soul. The flowers represented the fleeting beauty of incarnate existence because they quickly died and gave way to bitter, dark blue berries. On the other hand, the evergreen leaves retained their scent.
In Greek mythology, myrtle is sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and Demeter, the goddess of harvest. Aphrodite (also known as Myrtila) was ashamed of her nudity and hid behind a myrtle bush. In gratitude, she took the plant under her protection, and it became her favorite. Ancient Greeks and Romans planted myrtle around temples. It was believed to bring good luck. Soldiers, athletes, and nobles were honored with a wreath of myrtle leaves. Women bathed wearing crowns of myrtle branches. Myrtle was used in wedding rituals. Farmers regarded the garland of myrtle as auspicious.
In the sixteenth century, myrtle leaves and flowers were used to make a popular skin care lotion called Angels Water. They were also used to scent soaps and toiletries.
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