In recent years, our knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of olfaction has grown enormously, accompanied by a growing appreciation of scent. This is reflected in the fact that the 2004 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for discoveries of 'Odorant Receptors and the Organization of the Olfactory System'. This book naturally supports such developments, and takes the reader on a fascinating fragrant journey around the world to some of the exciting places the author has visited during his 30 years of olfactory research. Following an introductory section to the world of natural scents, including their biological meaning and history, the fragrance and flavor chemist, Roman Kaiser, who is renowned for his 'headspace' analytical technique, revisits some memorable scents. In doing so, he leads us to such exotic places as Lower Amazonia, Papua New Guinea, India, and many rain-forest biotopes in his quest for new molecules and new scent concepts, showing us along the way how a scent like tatami can be linked to culture. The third and final section describes the analysis of the compositions of the presented scents.

This book is a must for all professionals in the perfume industry.

Following an introductory section to the world of natural scents, including their biological meaning and history, the fragrance and flavor chemist, Roman Kaiser, who is renowned for his 'headspace' analytical technique, revisits some memorable scents. In doing so, he leads us to such exotic places as Lower Amazonia, Papua New Guinea, India, and many rain-forest biotopes in his quest for new molecules and new scent concepts, showing us along the way how a scent like tatami can be linked to culture.

The third and final section describes the analysis of the compositions of the presented scents.

 

 

 

Contents

Introduction to the World of Natural Scents

 

• Biological meaning of natural scents
• Hisotrical facts concerning natural scents
• Investigation of natural scents

Strolling in the World of Scents

 

• Confucius' hymn to scented orchids
• The scented flower clock
• Sweet osmanthus - an olfctory revelation of the East
• A day full of scnets in Lower Amazonia
• Watermelon Snow andAlpine Forget-me-not - two unique scents fro the top of Europe
• Nieuwoudtville - the bulb capital of the world
• Along the avenue of giants
• Agarwood - the wood of the gods
• Tatami - the scent of a refined culture
• Unda Namdanga, Kapafe Passe and Waso-no - memorable scents of Papua New Guinea
• Scent discoveries in Equatorial West Africa
• Other days full of scents in Lower Amazonia
• Victoria amazonica - the royal amazone
• The blue and the true lotus
• Euglossine orchids
• Along the shore of Masoala
• Environmental scents of the Ligurian Coast
• The earth's perfume
• China roses - the completion of European rose culture
• In a fragrant Indian garden
• How flowers and fungi use scents to mimic each other
• A meeting place for natural scents - wine bouquets
• Shangri-la, a plant and a scent paradise

Analytics

 

• General remarks
• Equipment used
• Compositions of the presented scents

Index