ABSTRACT
The word "perfume" is derived from the Latin roots "per" and "fumum," which together mean "through smoke." This is indicative of the practice of burning incenses and spices to produce odorous smokes in religious festivals. The term "fragrance" is used synonymously with "perfume" in the detergent industry and this convention is adopted here. The implication of the Latin root of fragrance is a "sweetness of smell," which is perhaps more descriptive of the functional use of perfumes in products than is the term "perfume."
