A course on the chemistry of perfume has been developed and offered as a laboratory course, a combined lecture/lab course, and a France travel course at Washington & Jefferson College. Designed for non-science majors, the course spans organic, analytical, and physical chemistry while bridging the artistic design of perfume. Students learn basic perfume terminology and history as well as the molecular structures behind some common scents. They extract fragrance from natural materials using distillation and solvent extraction and synthesize scents through Fischer esterification. Chromatography is used to assess components of a fragrance. Application consists of making soap, facial toner, and bath bombs with discussion on consumer safety and regulation. Biological concepts are incorporated with an experiment that tests the olfactory system and a lesson on pheromones. Psychology and marketing appear through studies on the role that scent plays in human behavior. In one iteration of the course, students travel to France, witnessing the role the fragrance industry has played in the history and development of the French Riviera. Course design, content, implementation, evaluation, and assessment are presented.

Perfume Chemistry: Combining artistry, science, and culture

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.