The Chemistry of Fragrances: From Perfumer to Consumer (RSC Paperbacks) (Hardcover)

"very readable as well as being educational. Highly recommended!"

Organic Process Research and Development Vol 4 No 1 2000 p 60

The chemistry of fragrances. From perfumer to consumer

Charles Sell (ed)

Cambridge, UK; Royal Society of Chemistry ] 2006 ] 336pp ] ISBN 0854048243

Reviewed by David Chamberlin

... a good insight into the perfume industry

This book is unashamedly chemical, written by and for chemists. It is multi-authored, but all the contributors are currently or were previously employed by the same company, Quest International, giving a cohesive approach to the content. The editor, Charles Sell, welds the various chapters together to give a good insight into the perfume industry.

After an introduction on the history of perfumes and fragrances and on perfumery materials from natural plant sources, the longest chapter of the book covers the chemical synthesis of perfume ingredients, especially terpenoid ones. The industrial syntheses developed by the various companies in the fragrance business are well described in chemical and economic terms and accompanied by reaction sequences.

The rest of the book shows how these basic ingredients produced by the chemist are used to develop fragrance products through formulation, and outlines all the other issues that the industry has to consider such as fragrance perception, fragrance performance, stability testing, biodegradability, safety and toxicology.

A final section deals with the future search for new fragrance ingredients which the authors claim will involve chemists using their synthetic skills, inspired by nature, and aided by computers.

A sniff page isincluded, the scent of which lasts long enough for the reader to finish the book in a cloud of lavender.

Chemistry World 3, #12, 63, Dec 2006

Product Description
Ever wondered how perfumes are developed? Or why different scents appeal to different people? "The Chemistry of Fragrances, Second Edition" offers answers to these questions, providing a fascinating insight into the perfume industry, from the conception of an idea to the finished product. It discusses the technical, artistic and commercial challenges of the perfume industry in an informative and engaging style, with contributions from leading experts in the field. The book begins with a historical introduction and covers all aspects of the development process - from the customer brief to fragrance production, including: ingredient acquisition, ingredient design and manufacture, design and analysis of fragrance, sensory aspects including odour perception, psychological impact of fragrance, technical challenges, and safety. An updated section on the measurement of fragrance discusses the role of senses in marketing consumer products. This book will appeal to anyone with an interest in the perfumery business, and includes an extensive bibliography to enable those interested to explore the field further. It also comes complete with a selection of colour illustrations and a fragranced page.

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