1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
Perfume is a fragrant liquid made from an extract that has been distilled in alcohol and water.
The term perfume comes from the Latin word “per” meaning “through” and “fume,” or “smoke.” Many ancient perfumes were made by extracting natural oils from plants through pressing and steaming. The oil was then burnt to scent the air.
Making of perfume involves three key ingredients; essential oils, pure grain oil and water.Techniques involved in perfume extraction from plants include; solvent extraction, steam distillation and effleurage method. These methods tend distort the odor of the aromatic compounds that are obtained.
Perfume can be formulated from essential oil extracted from many plant species such as lemongrass, cocoa nut, groundnuts, eucalyptus and some species are mainly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent. Lemongrass essential oil is extracted from Cymbopogon citratus of the Poaceae family. (M.A.Suryawanshi, 2016)
Perfume is categorized into two groups; pure perfume (any fragrance derived completely from processed natural material like raw fruits, flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, without any artificial components), and synthetic perfume (derive from artificial compound and materials belong to a family of chemicals called petrochemical obtained from petroleum and natural gas). (Anne Marie, 2007).
According to a study conducted by the environmental working group showed that, the perfume industry employs over 3100 combination of synthetic compounds, with an average 29 perfume sporting chemicals, half of which are not included on the ingredient label, some artificial ingredients are not present in the umbilical cord blood of a newborn babies (Anne Marie, 2007). This means that mothers wearing certain scent are actually passing toxins onto their children and this can be linked to many allergic reaction, such as eczema, asthma attacks, disruption in hormone and suppress the immune system. Unless someone happen to be allergic to one of the ingredients, but all pure perfumes, made properly with essential oils, have no associated health risk ornegative side effects. (Anne Marie, 2007)
1.2 Problem Statement
Majority of synthetic compounds used in formulation of perfume belong to a chemical family called petrochemical derived from petroleum and natural gases. These have been linked to many allergic reactions, such as eczema, asthma attacks, and disruption in hormone and suppress the immune system(Anne Marie, 2007).This creates carcinogen which involve in the formation of cancerous cell. According to the EU's scientific committee on cosmetic products, 2% of people suffer an allergic reaction in response to a synthetic fragrance.The abundant availability of lemongrass in the country, it can also laydown a foundation for small-scale industries(Green, june 1991).
1.3 Objectives
1.3.1 General Objective
To formulate perfume from essential oils extracted from lemongrass (CYMBOPOGON FLEXUOSUS).
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
- To extract essential oil from lemongrass (cymbopogon flexuosus).
- To investigate the properties of extracted essential oils.
- To formulate perfume from essential oils extracted.
1.4 Justification
The study will not only be stretching the limit of the resources by using lemongrass for other purpose but also there will be production of a product that is commercially viable for places where lemongrasses are cultivated in large quantities as weeds.
The success of this work will stimulate the development of the perfume industry locally because of available cheap raw materials, hence job creation for those that will be engaged in planting/cultivation of the lemongrass. This will lead reduction on the resources spent on importation of lemongrass fragrance by end users.
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