"The Evolution of Fragrance"

As an employee at a retail store, I encounter various new fragrances for men and women reasonably often. Today I examined one of our new colognes and read the description of the scent. In its description  it stated that it had  "notes of fine brandy" (yes, the alcohol) and "sensual spices." As I read this I realized that, although it is so often overlooked, technology has changed the industry of fragrance in quite an amazing way.

Consider for a moment, the history of colognes and perfumes. When man first decided to attempt to enhance his own natural scent with something more pleasing to the nostrils, he would use natural scents to mask his own. Things like roses, lavenders, and vanilla smelled naturally good so we found ways to transfer that scent to our bodies. This continued for centuries, Romans and other ancient cultures used oils scented with things like cinnamon and ginger, but that was as complex as our quest for a pleasant odor ever got until the last few decades.

Now look at the modern cosmetics industry and the fragrances on the market. They have actual laboratories in order to discover what combinations of scents have the most pleasing aromas. There is an entire science built around what smells good to humans. Technology has made this possible by presenting completely new things to smell and ways to produce it. Through technology, our idea of a good smell has been altered. Now when someone smells a lavender perfume, it may remind them of a beloved grandmother, but rarely of a hot date or a night on the town. No our sense of smell needs something more complex and interesting; maybe next time try some notes of fine brandy and sensual spices?