4 Types of Fixatives
Continuing on from the previous post about fixatives, there are four main categories of fixatives.
“True” Fixatives
These non-volatile substances are typically added to help stabilize and extend the aroma of the volatile compounds.
They slow down the evaporation of the volatile compounds, helping the aroma to “fix” to the skin. They’re easily identifiable due to their high-molecular structure (high molecular weight). Some examples are musk, civet, and labdanum.
“Arbitrary” Fixatives
Rather than being chosen for their interaction with volatile compounds (and therefore influence on evaporation), they’re chosen for their sensory contribution in scent, color, and texture. Patchouli, beeswax, and oakmoss are examples.
Exalting” Fixatives
They’re specifically used to enhance other notes in the fragrance.
As they have a strong scent, these materials are used in small amounts to avoid a substantial change in the scent. Tolu Balsam, Peru Balsam, and vanilla are major examples.
“So-called” Fixatives
They don’t necessarily have the fixing capability. Instead, they’re high-boiling materials that cause an increase in the boiling point of the fragrance, reducing the odor of the low-boiling materials. As a result, these fixatives have minor effects on the actual scent of the fragrance.
Boiling point and evaporation are closely related. The key distinction is that part of a perfume can evaporate before the entire liquid reaches boiling point. A high boiling point is also closely connected to the overall stability of a perfume.
A diagram that shows the difference between evaporation and boiling.
A fixative can exist in multiple categories, but an exalting fixative can never be a true fixative due to how little is added. Since synthetic fixatives are the most common, true and so-called fixatives are the most common types.
