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Perfumes may smell like raspberries or jasmine but, paradoxically,fragrancesare the last frontier ofnatural beauty products.

Woman spraying herself with perfume while wearing towel in bathroom

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It’s been that way since the late 1800s, when synthetic aromatic molecules were introduced.

For the first time, precious scents were available at prices that the rising middle class could afford.

“With the move from natural to synthetics, the great perfumes were born Chanel No.

5, Shalimar.”

But “it’s tricky to formulate perfumes with natural ingredients.

One high-tech solution: Perfumers are usingartificial intelligenceto measure how intensely you will smell a scent over time.

But what about the sustainability question?

“One of the most famous sandalwoods, mysore, was sold in India.

It got harvested into oblivion.”

But innovative materials are offering a more sustainable way forward.

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However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.