What does the word 'headspace' mean?
What do you think when you read or hear the word 'headspace': the space above a head? Indeed, in technology, the word literally means the space above a thing or object. And even more precisely: the molecules present above something in the air. Above a plant, a tree, an animal or a situation.
Perfumes that make use of the Headspace technology
What is headspace technology?
Traditional methods of extracting odors from nature, such as distillation, extraction and enfleurage, have been around for hundreds of years. But less than 50 years ago, an innovative technique was invented: headspace analysis.
Headspace analysis is a groundbreaking method that has opened a whole new world of creative possibilities for perfumers. This technique works by capturing and analyzing volatile fragrant molecules, like how the human nose perceives scents. By capturing and measuring volatiles, headspace can capture the scent of a specific location or even a single flower.
The process begins by taking an air sample, such as by placing a bell jar over a flower. The captured air is then analyzed using advanced techniques such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. This allows perfumers to identify every single molecule, even in the smallest amounts. This gives them a complete and in-depth understanding of the composition of natural fragrances.
Roman Kaiser
Swiss chemist Roman Kaiser is the founder of the headspace technique. He was looking for a way to capture the volatile fragrance components of rare plants without damaging the plants themselves. Thanks to his innovation, perfumers can now accurately reconstruct the scents of these rare plants without picking them.
In short, headspace analysis gives perfumers a wonderful technique to work with new accords and capture and recreate the most complex and delicate scents. Headspace gives a perfumer the ability to recreate any scent as realistically as possible.
More unique fragrances by Headspace
Examples of headspace technology in perfumes
Fantastic that through headspace we can now capture the most extraordinary scents. Even a rare flower living in the canopy of an inhospitable jungle can be analyzed by briefly hanging a bell jar above it from a helicopter and taking an air sample.
In 2014, in collaboration with Meabh McCurtin (IFF), I used the headspace technique to create Eau d'Amsterdam. So, we analyzed the headspace of elm leaves and elm wood, so we could capture the scent of Amsterdam's leading tree in a bottle.
Headspace is also the name an unusual Parisian niche perfume house from the Perfume Lounge collection. This French brand uses headspace technology for each perfume.
They also put headspace technology at the center of their packaging: their vials are beautifully stylized maxi versions of the laboratory vials as used for headspace results.
The scents of the perfume house Headspace
The Headspace perfumes are based on the headspace analyses of the following inspiring locations or moments:
- Santal: the headspace of vintage champagne
- Myrrhe: the headspace of rocks by a stormy sea
- Styrax: the headspace of a galloping horse
- Tubereuse: the headspace of subtle cigarette smoke
- Absinthe: the headspace of heated hot skin
- Kirsch: the headspace of the Japanese drink sake.
The perfumes were created by the talented young IFF perfumers Paul Guerlain (yes, the great-grandson of), Fanny Bal and Julien Rasquinet.
