Summary
The podcast episode delves into the history and science behind perfumes and colognes. The hosts discuss the origins of perfumes, which were initially used to scent leather gloves and later evolved into a tool to stimulate sexuality. They also touch on the classification of scents used in the perfume industry and the varying strengths of fragrances. The podcast also sheds light on the use of animal glands and secretions in perfumes, such as musk, beaver anal glands, and ambergris, and how proper storage and care can extend the shelf life of perfumes.
The podcast talks about the process of creating perfumes, which involves sending a brief to fragrance houses who employ chemists and perfumers to create the formula. The fragrance houses create multiple versions of the perfume and send them to odor testers to weed out the undesirable ones. The chosen perfume is then produced and delivered in large drums of perfume oil that are diluted to create the final product. Listeners are also given tips on how to get the most out of their perfume, such as lightly dabbing it on pulse points and avoiding rubbing it in too hard.
The podcast also discusses the two theories of smell - the associative learning hypothesis and the innate hypothesis - and how they relate to the perception of smells. The context touches on the importance of scent in mate selection and the lack of scientific proof for aphrodisiac compounds. Additionally, it talks about the ban of the perfume Giorgio from some restaurants in the 1980s. The episode ends with an invitation to listeners to share their favorite or most hated perfume of all time by tweeting, emailing, or posting on the Facebook page for Stuff You Should Know.
Overall, the podcast episode provides a fascinating look into the world of perfumes and their impact on human senses and behavior. It is an informative and interesting listen for anyone curious about the science and history behind perfumes and colognes.
