The main liquid in perfume is typically alcohol, most commonly a mixture of ethanol and water or rectified spirit.
While perfume oils provide the fragrance, they need a solvent to dilute them, making the scent wearable and helping it diffuse properly. Alcohol serves this purpose most effectively due to its volatility and ability to dissolve a wide range of fragrance compounds.
Here's a breakdown:
- Alcohol (Ethanol): The most common solvent. Its volatility helps the fragrance evaporate and project from the skin.
- Water: Often mixed with ethanol to adjust the concentration and solvency of the mixture.
- Other Oils: Less common alternatives for dilution include neutral-smelling oils like fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil. These are sometimes used in oil-based perfumes.
Therefore, although other liquids can be used, alcohol is overwhelmingly the primary liquid component in the majority of perfumes available on the market.
