Perfume is a captivating and personal product. Whether for daily wear or special occasions, it adds a unique touch to our presence. But what exactly goes into making perfume? This article dives into the key ingredients of perfume, the types of raw materials used, and where to source them for wholesale or bulk purchasing.
What Are the Basic Ingredients in Perfume?
Fragrance Materials
Fragrance is the heart of any perfume. It determines the scent profile and longevity. The main types include:
1. Essential Oils
Extracted from plants like lavender, rose, and sandalwood. Known for their rich, pure aromas, essential oils are the cornerstone of many premium perfumes.
2. Absolutes
More concentrated than essential oils, absolutes are derived from flowers, resins, or fruits and offer deep, long-lasting scents—such as jasmine absolute or rose absolute.
3. Synthetic Raw Materials
These can be naturally extracted or synthetically made. They’re used to create specific notes within a fragrance.
4. Fragrance Oil
Made from various synthetic aroma chemicals, these are designed to mimic natural scents while maintaining stability and affordability.
Alcohol
Alcohol serves as both a solvent and a carrier for fragrance materials. It helps the scent spread evenly and affects its intensity and longevity.
1. Eau de Toilette (EDT)
70–85% alcohol. Light and suitable for everyday use. Lasts 4–6 hours.
2. Eau de Parfum (EDP)
75–90% alcohol. Richer scent profile with 6–8 hours of wear.
3. Parfum / Extrait de Parfum
Lower alcohol, higher fragrance concentration. Long-lasting (8+ hours), ideal for special occasions.
Additives
In addition to fragrance materials and alcohol, perfumes also contain additives that enhance stability and longevity. These ingredients help create more depth in the scent and extend the product’s shelf life. Common additives include:
1. Fixatives
Fixatives can slow down the volatilization of fragrance, allowing each stage of the scent to be more balanced and long-lasting. Traditional fixatives such as ambergris and musk help extend the longevity of the fragrance and add depth to the perfume.
2. Antioxidants
Antioxidants prevent perfume from oxidizing and deteriorating, ensuring fragrance stability. Common antioxidant ingredients include BHT and Vitamin E, which help extend the shelf life of the perfume and maintain the purity of its scent.
Categories of Perfume Raw Materials
Animal-Derived Materials
Rare and highly valued, these ingredients bring depth and persistence to luxury perfumes:
1. Musk
Originally sourced from musk deer, now commonly replaced with synthetic alternatives.
2. Ambergris
Ambergris is derived from the secretion of sperm whales and forms through long-term oxidation in seawater. It is a precious fixative that gives perfume a soft, amber-like note.
3. Castoreum
Castoreum is extracted from the glands of beavers and carries leathery and smoky nuances, adding depth to fragrances.
Plant-Derived Materials
Sourced from flowers, fruits, woods, and herbs, these are the most common and versatile raw materials:
1. Floral (Rose, Jasmine, Orange Blossom)
Romantic and elegant; a staple in many classic scents.
2. Citrus (Lemon, Bergamot, Orange)
Fresh and vibrant; often used as top notes.
3. Woody (Sandalwood, Vetiver, Cedarwood)
Add warmth, depth, and a grounded character to the fragrance.
Synthetic Raw Materials
Synthetic raw materials are commonly used in perfumery. These are single aroma molecules obtained through isolation or chemical synthesis to create purer, more stable scent profiles. They are generally categorized into two types: isolated molecules and synthetic molecules.
1. Isolated Molecules:
These are single components extracted from natural raw materials, for example:
- Vanillin: Extracted from vanilla beans, it offers a sweet, creamy, and rich vanilla scent.
- Citral: Derived from lemon and citrus fruits, it delivers a fresh, zesty citrus aroma.
2. Synthetic Molecules:
Produced through chemical synthesis, these molecules can accurately replicate or create specific scents, such as:
- Ethyl Phenylacetate: Features a delicate fruity-floral aroma, commonly used in fruity fragrance blends.
- Ambrettolide: A synthetic musk with a warm, powdery character, widely used in modern fragrance formulations.
Fragrance Oils
Fragrance compounds are made from various synthetic molecules and designed to mimic natural scents while ensuring product stability and cost-efficiency. Compared to natural extracts, they are easier to formulate and store, making them widely used in commercial perfumes and scented products like reed diffusers, candles, and bath products.
Common Fragrance Ingredients:
Woody Notes
Citrus Notes
Aromatic & Herbal Notes
Floral Notes
Where to Buy and Wholesale Fragrance Raw Materials?
Pureness, based in Taichung, Taiwan, is a professional perfume wholesale company with over 20 years of experience. We specialize in flexible and diverse business collaboration models, importing over 200 types of pure essential oils, 250+ types of essential oil blends, and more than 50 plant-based carrier oils. With a deep understanding of the global market, we supply high-quality fragrance oils, perfumes, and raw materials for fragrance creation.
Since 2014, Pureness has been offering OEM/ODM manufacturing services, with a focus on essential oil-based skincare products. From formulation development to packaging design and even training programs, we provide a one-stop solution tailored to our clients’ needs. Our products are created with customized formulations by international perfumers and comply with ISO 22716 standards. Our range covers aromatherapy oils, fragrance oils, perfumes, facial skincare, bath products, diffusers, and daily-use aromatherapy items.
In our perfume collections, we incorporate clinical aromatherapy experience from the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA) to create unique top, heart, and base notes using natural plant-derived ingredients—helping you build a signature scent for your brand.
Pureness operates multiple technical laboratories and leverages two decades of hands-on clinical aromatherapy expertise to ensure product quality. Our offerings are supported by certifications such as MSDS and COA. We also provide custom product development and essential oil education courses to help clients enhance their product promotion strategies.
Our OEM/ODM service delivers a complete brand manufacturing solution with a streamlined and transparent process—from sourcing raw materials to contract manufacturing. We have successfully partnered with over a hundred brands. Our efficient logistics system ensures prompt deliveries to regions including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Malaysia. We also offer a flexible return and exchange policy, giving our clients peace of mind. Feel free to contact us anytime for more information.
PURENESS | Essential Oil Wholesale | Fragrance Product OEM
For over 20 years, Pureness has deeply cultivated the essential oil industry, offering more than 250 types of natural essential oils and 50 types of plant oils. We provide essential oils in large quantities, including big drums and kilogram-sized orders, to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Our professional aromatherapy team is dedicated to creating comprehensive recipes, a wide range of fragrance products, and a complete line of OEM skincare solutions. We customize formulations to match our customers' product requirements, tailoring fragrance scents and effects to develop standout products under exclusive brand names. Contact us for consultations and inquiries!
Contact Information｜PURENESS
- Location: 5th Floor, No. 42, Zhongming South Road, West District, Taichung City
- Contact number: +886-4-2310-6863
- Email: sales@pureness.asia
- Contact channel: LINE@｜Whatsapp｜Email
More Articles
