fragrance

The Male Musk Deer Owes Gratitude to Chemistry

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:01:17 +0000

Arab perfumers in the sixth century were the first to discover that diluting the obnoxious smelling dried contents of the little pod found near the anus of the male Asian musk deer not only resulted in a pleasant odour, but when added to perfumes allowed the scent to linger longer. Musk was even incorporated into the mortar of important buildings so that it would waft a pleasant smell into the air. There was even a belief that the aroma had aphrodisiac qualities and would therefore enhance the pleasure of activities that might be engaged in.

The Smelly Truth About Fragrances

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 19:38:53 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

Can a “fragrance-free” product have a smell? Absolutely. Can an “unscented” product contain any ingredients that have a smell? Yes. It’s all a matter of semantics, although there are no universally recognized definitions here.

A Breath of Fresh Air? Hardly.

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 14:51:35 +0000

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), headquartered in Atlanta, is often in the news because of its mandate to protect the health of the public. These days it is almost impossible to have a conversation about Covid-19 without the name of CDC popping up. Of course, the organization deals with much more than illness due to viral infections. The effect of fragrances on health is also in its domain.

Another TikTok Trend Not Based on Science: Vabbing

Ada McVean M.Sc. — Wed, 10 May 2023 14:57:15 +0000

Vabbing, as the name perhaps suggests, involves the dabbing of vaginal secretions onto so-called pulse points of the body—wrists, neck, inside the elbows—just as you would a fragrance.

Are All Oils Essential? Are Essential Oils Even Oils?

Ada McVean B.Sc. — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:02:47 +0000

Oils are defined as any net uncharged chemical substance that is a thick liquid at room temperature and is both hydrophobic (does not mix with water) and lipophilic (does mix with fats, or lipids). When we think of them, our minds tend to focus on the kitchen: olive, canola or peanut oil. But there are also oils in your garage (motor oil), bathroom (conditioner) and your art collection (oil paints).

What is the difference between “Unscented” and “Fragrance-free” products?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 04:32:46 +0000

Can a fragrance-free product have a smell? Absolutely. Can an unscented product contain any compounds that have a smell? Absolutely. It’s all a matter of semantics although there are no universally recognized definitions here. Unscented products are formulated to have no smell but can contain ingredients that have a smell but the smell has been neutralized by other components. A fragrance-free product cannot contain any ingredients that have been added to impart a smell but may contain ingredients that have a scent but are not added because of their scent.