Sweet Aldehyde

I have loved perfumes for years and years and I just learned this. There is a special synthetic fragrance module that allows the scent of a perfume adapt itself, at least somewhat, to your body. This is the fragrance that smells different on different people.

To some extent, all fragrance is unique. The human body's own chemistry, skin condition, pheremones, and other things means that perfume X will smell three different ways on three different people. Of course, good perfume noses can generally tell it's still perfume X, it's just that there will be subtle differences.

Aldehyde takes that to a new level. And it's not even new, it was turn of the 20th century chemistry.

Here's the kicker. Know a big aldehyde fragrance? Chanel No. 5. That's right, one of the most venerable of all perfumes, is actually an aldehyde fragrance. It's not big deal, I guess, a lot of them are.

But this is Chanel No. 5. To me, Chanel No. 5 is the pinnacle of perfumes. It's been around for alf a century, if not longer. It has a cool name (I understand it was named for Coco Chanel's favorite number). Marilyn Monroe wore it. I bet just about every glamourous woman has worn it or would wear it.

Now I find out it's not one of those super-purist kind of perfumes, but a great scent with a synthetic kicker. Not only that, but I also learned that the French perfume industry is known for its use of aldehyde. Another use of chemistry in action!