Anisha Riggs
It is possible to create a perfume from another person's scent. Artist Ani Liu, a graduate of the MIT Media Lab, has bottled her parents' scents by capturing volatile molecules from a person's garment in a solvent for several weeks and then distilling the solution through traditional glassware. She has also bottled the scent of her husband, although he did not think it smelled like him. This process of extracting volatile molecules from garments and fixing them into a solvent can be used to create perfumes from anyone's scent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Possibility | Yes |
| Method | Capturing volatile molecules from a person's garment in a solvent for several weeks and then distilling the solution through traditional glassware |
| Examples | Ani Liu bottled her parents' scents |
| Uncanniness | Uncanny to unscrew a bottle and smell a person |
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What You'll Learn
- Artist Ani Liu has bottled her parents' scents using technology and science
- One method involves capturing volatile molecules from a person's garment in a solvent
- Perfumes are made from essential oils or using the enfleurage method
- Alcohol-based perfumes are generally made with essential oils, alcohol, and distilled water
- Top notes of perfumes include lemon, orange, grapefruit, and lime
Artist Ani Liu has bottled her parents' scents using technology and science
Artist Ani Liu has bottled fragrances of people close to her, including her parents, using technology and science. Liu, an MIT Media Lab graduate, is passionate about creating a time capsule of sorts to preserve the memory of her parents before they pass away.
Liu's process involves extracting volatile molecules from garments worn by the subject and fixing them into a solvent. This requires a lot of experimentation with different solvents, concentrations, and settings in the distillation process. The accuracy of the process is quite interesting, as people may perceive their own scent differently when it is separated from their body.
In addition to creating these human-scented perfumes, Liu also explores the concept of self-portraiture through microbial art. She captures bacteria from her armpit, sterilizes it, and transfers it to a petri dish to grow for several weeks. This method of using microbes to create art challenges our views of reality and encourages a broader range of perspectives.
Liu's work with scent and memory is part of her larger exploration of multi-sensory experiences that examine the social, cultural, and emotional effects of emerging technologies. By bottling the scents of her loved ones, she has created a unique way to trigger fond memories and immortalize their essence.
The idea of bottling a person's scent may seem uncanny or even creepy to some, but it offers a new way to think about memory, mourning, and the complex relationship between scent and emotion.
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One method involves capturing volatile molecules from a person's garment in a solvent
Artist Ani Liu has developed a method for capturing the scent of a person in a perfume. Liu's method involves capturing volatile molecules from a person's garment in a solvent. This process requires the garment to be soaked in a solvent for several weeks, after which the solution is distilled using traditional glassware. The result is a perfume that captures the scent of the person who wore the garment.
Liu, a graduate of the MIT Media Lab, first became interested in capturing human scent while studying architecture and learning about the tools used in design, such as Rhino or AutoCast software for computer-aided design and mold casting. She then began experimenting with different solvents, concentrations, and settings in the distillation process to develop a protocol for making perfumes from anyone's scent.
One of the challenges Liu encountered was that the perception of one's own scent can be different when it is separated from the body. For example, when she created a perfume based on her husband's scent, he did not recognize it as his own and found it disgusting. This phenomenon may be due to certain scents becoming "invisible" to us when we live in our bodies.
Liu's work with human-scented perfumes is part of her larger exploration of the social, cultural, and emotional effects of emerging technologies. By creating multi-sensory experiences that combine architecture, augmented reality, and synthetic biology, she invites people to consider the impact of technology on our behaviors and perceptions.
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Perfumes are made from essential oils or using the enfleurage method
While it is possible to make perfume from another person's scent, there is little to no information on how to do so. However, perfumes are typically made using essential oils or the enfleurage method.
Essential oils are pure plant extracts that offer amazing benefits for the body and mind. They are highly concentrated, so only a tiny amount is needed, and they last a long time. To make perfume using essential oils, you will need a lightweight, non-greasy oil, such as fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or safflower oil, and your choice of essential oils. It is important to dilute the essential oils and not apply them directly to the skin. You can customise the blend according to your taste and mood, and don't be afraid to experiment! Once you have chosen your blend, add the essential oils to a glass bottle, shake a little, and apply.
Alternatively, you can use the enfleurage method, which involves immersing raw materials in a fatty substance to absorb the scents. This technique, developed in Grasse in the South of France, has been used since the 18th century but is now largely abandoned due to its low yield, high expense, and labour-intensive nature. There are two types of enfleurage: hot and cold. Hot enfleurage, also called maceration, involves installing plants that can withstand heat, such as mimosa, in oil or fat, and heating them to between 40° and 60° in a bain-marie for two hours. The macerate is regularly mixed, and the final product is filtered and washed with alcohol to obtain a highly perfumed substance. Cold enfleurage does not involve heat and is used for more fragile plants. Both types of enfleurage are rarely used today, as more modern techniques like Nature Print and Softact are preferred.
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Alcohol-based perfumes are generally made with essential oils, alcohol, and distilled water
Alcohol-based perfumes are typically made with essential oils, alcohol, and distilled water. The process of creating these perfumes involves blending essential oils with alcohol and, sometimes, distilled water. This combination of ingredients gives alcohol-based perfumes their unique characteristics, including improved dispersion, longevity, and overall sensory impact.
Essential oils are key to the fragrance of perfumes. When selecting essential oils, it is important to consider any health advisories, as not all essential oils are suitable for direct skin contact. Blending these oils can be challenging, and it often takes multiple attempts to achieve the desired fragrance. The chosen essential oils are combined with alcohol, which acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve and blend the oils while adding depth and balance to the scent.
The type of alcohol used in perfume-making is typically ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol. This alcohol is widely available and commonly used in perfumes due to its ability to combine well with essential oils and other aromatic components. It is important to use cosmetic-grade alcohol, such as Trade Specific Denatured Alcohol (TSDA), to ensure safety and avoid potential toxins. Rubbing alcohol, for instance, is not suitable for perfume-making as it contains isopropyl alcohol, which has a strong smell and can irritate the skin.
Distilled water is an optional ingredient in perfume-making. Some perfumers add a small amount of distilled water to their perfumes to reduce the harshness of the alcohol on the skin and enhance the 'lift' of the scent. However, adding water can cloud the fragrance, so it is a matter of personal preference.
The process of making an alcohol-based perfume involves measuring and combining the desired amounts of essential oils, alcohol, and optional distilled water. The mixture is then aged in a cool, dark location for at least 48 hours to allow the scents to mingle and intensify. After ageing, the fragrance can be diluted with distilled or spring water, especially if a perfume spray is desired. Finally, the perfume is bottled, preferably in sterilized containers, and stored away from light to preserve the fragrance.
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Top notes of perfumes include lemon, orange, grapefruit, and lime
Creating perfumes that capture another person's scent is indeed possible. While it may seem unusual, bottling a person's scent can be done, and it has been done before.
Now, when it comes to the top notes of perfumes, these initial scents play a critical role in setting the stage for the entire fragrance experience. Also known as the 'opening' or 'head note', top notes are the initial essence that captivates the wearer upon application. They are often bright, tangy, and refreshing, providing an invigorating zestiness that energizes the senses. Common top notes include citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, grapefruit, and lime, which offer a versatile and complementary presence in various fragrance genres, from fresh fragrances to aromatic woody aromas.
The appeal of citrus top notes lies in their versatility and ability to seamlessly blend with other scents. For example, the addition of grapefruit to vanilla perfume creates a delightful blend of velvety richness and sparkling freshness. Similarly, the combination of bitter orange with freesia in a perfume evokes the ambiance of walking into a humid butterfly garden, as described by one perfume reviewer.
Top notes are not limited to citrus alone; floral and spicy notes can also be used. Floral top notes, such as lily of the valley, jasmine, rose, and orange blossom, offer a light, fresh, and volatile presence, setting the tone for the fragrance journey. Spicy top notes, on the other hand, add warmth, zest, and an invigorating kick to fragrances, creating an immediate sensory impact and adding an exotic and dynamic touch.
The art of perfumery involves a delicate balance and artistry in blending fragrances, and top notes play a pivotal role in creating that exquisite first impression.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is possible to make perfume out of another person's scent. Artist Ani Liu has used emerging technologies to create human-scented perfumes by capturing volatile molecules from a person's garment and distilling the solution.
Liu captures volatile molecules from a person's garment in a solvent for several weeks and then distills the solution through traditional glassware.
To make perfume, you will need a solvent, alcohol (vodka or Everclear), distilled water, essential oils, and a bottle. You may also need a funnel, measuring cup, and glycerine if you are making a spray perfume.
