Perfumes and colognes have been around in one fashion or another almost as long as man has been on earth. Early man washed seldom washed themselves, so obnoxious aromas were covered up with crushed flowers, particularly for women. Perfumes have been used throughout the years in religious ceremonies, as part of sexual ceremonies, as an honor, and in gifts. Fashion throughout time has led the perfume industry into new dimensions and has created a ten billion dollar industry.

Perfumes are created from a basic oil and alcohol base and then scented with floral and plant extracts. Blending these natural aromas has produced a cacophony of varieties to suit every occasion and every desire. Most women typically have between four and eight everyday perfumes and one special occasion scent. Men have smaller collections, ranging between three and six, but most men also tend to have one special occasion scent set aside for those intimate moments.

Chanel No. 5 has been around, and increasing in popularity, since 1921.While the basic marketing tactics have changed, Chanel still holds to its belief that every woman should have a little perfume for whenever they wish to be kissed. Despite drastic changes in the perfume market, it is estimated that a bottle of this timeless perfume sells once every thirty seconds.

The 1970s brought about the sultry revolution, enticing women into perfume sales for the first time using sexual prowess as its marketing campaign. And it worked. Opium was introduced along with a few other long standing scents and has maintained its popularity ever since.

The 1980s brought about the erotic marketing of designer scent, heavily laden with vanilla and enticing both men and women to explore the power of aroma in sexual interactions. Since then, sex has been selling the most popular fragrances with fierce success. Combined with the introduction of power hitter perfumes, the fragrance industry boomed into an explosive industry.

Today, perfume is available for every occasion fro every day use to sexual exploitation. Nearly every woman in developed countries uses perfume as a statement of availability, interest, or seduction. Men are just as likely to turn to fragrance to express sexual interest and their sexual prowess. The world of fragrance has grown from a pleasant form of odor control to an entire sexual industry. Having lost the reputation that perfumes are only for the exclusively wealthy and are only worthy of their price, the perfume industry is growing and gaining popularity.