The term 'Parfum' or 'Aroma', more rarely, 'Perfume', is a generic term for a fragrance and is used in cosmetic products to denote fragrant and aromatic compounds and their raw materials (1).

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Parfum is the French word for perfume. It is used in lists of ingredients to indicate the presence of a fragrance.

The synthesis process takes place in different stages:

• Concept development. The process starts with a concept from a brand or perfumer. This concept can be anything from a mood, a feeling, a place or even a person.
• Selection of aroma compounds. The perfumer selects various aromatic compounds or essential oils that align with the concept. These compounds are divided into three categories according to their volatility: more volatile, less volatile.
• Mixing. The selected aromatic compounds are mixed in specific proportions. This is a highly skilled operation that requires a deep understanding of how different fragrances interact with each other.
• Ageing. The blend is left to age for different weeks or even months. This allows the different components to merge and the harsh notes to subside.
• Quality control. The final fragrance is tested for quality and stability.

Food

They may be natural products, but most are of chemical origin. No manufacturer declares which chemical compound is behind the cryptonym 'Parfum'. 

This study by U.Klaschka of the University of Ulm examined a hundred ingredient lists to find that the generic term "Parfum" was present in 71 of them. Many consumers are unaware that the allergenic potential of the fragrance ingredients in these products may be no less than that of many known allergens. Moreover, since it is fashionable to put the magic word 'of natural origin' on labels, the study points out that 'the allergenic potential of a chemical is independent of whether a substance is of natural or synthetic origin. It depends on the chemical structure, concentration, purity and interactions with other compounds' (2).

Cosmetics

Used as a synthetic fragrance, Parfum does not have a list of its ingredients as each manufacturer produces it at the customer's request. Therefore, it is not known whether there are chemical compounds within it that can create sensitisation.

The most relevant studies and their abstracts have been selected to explore this in more depth:

Parfum studies

References_______________________________________________________________________

(1) COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (76/76/EEC).

(2) Klaschka U. Natural personal care products-analysis of ingredient lists and legal situation. Environ Sci Eur. 2016;28(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12302-016-0076-7.