Plant Structure, Function, and UsePlant Uses |
What plants are commonly used in the perfume industry? |
Perfumes are made of a mixture of a large variety of scents. Although many perfumes are created synthetically, the expensive designer scents still use natural essential oils extracted from plants. The perfume industry uses all parts of the plant to create a unique blend of scents. Some commonly used plant materials for essential-oil extraction are:
Plant Part |
Source |
Bark |
Indonesia and Ceylon cinnamons and cassia |
Flowers |
Rose, carnation, orange blossoms, ylang-ylang, violet, and lavender |
Gums |
Balsam and myrrh |
Leaves and stems |
Rosemary, geranium, citronella, lemongrass, and a variety of mints |
Rhizomes |
Ginger |
Roots |
Sassafras |
Seeds and fruits |
Orange, lemon, and nutmeg |
Wood |
Cedar, sandalwood, and pine |