Freshly washed laundry smells good because detergent fragrances are carefully blended perfumes, according to Catherine Ganahl, a senior perfumer at Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), which owns Ariel. She describes the process of mixing these scents as an 'art form, like composing music'.
The Science Behind the Scent
Fragrances in laundry detergents are combinations of aroma molecules chosen to deliver a pleasant, lasting scent on treated fabrics. These are present at carefully determined levels alongside other ingredients such as wetting agents and enzymes that break down stubborn stains. Ganahl says scents are used because they are widely considered an important signal that laundry has been washed effectively.
An Art Form with 4,000 Ingredients
Ganahl declares the process of mixing her toolbox of 4,000 natural and synthetic ingredients as an 'art form, like composing music'. She said: 'My creativity combined with a scientific background is key to crafting irresistible scents that are loved. Just like fashion, fragrance trends evolve and everyone has their own taste and favourite scent. Luckily, I have a toolbox of about 4,000 natural and synthetic perfume ingredients that I can combine - like composing music.'
Many of these ingredients are familiar, like citrus oils extracted from lemons and oranges or floral notes like lavender and ylang-ylang. Interestingly, only a few drops of perfume are needed per wash, which gets diluted during the wash and spreads across fabrics. After drying, most of the perfume evaporates, leaving just a fresh and clean scent with minimal contact on the skin.
Safety and Standards
Fragrance also contributes to the overall consumer experience, so Ariel carefully selects and levels each perfume to deliver this benefit while meeting rigorous safety standards. Ariel says its fragrance safety process follows the same steps endorsed by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), two of the most recognised authorities in global fragrance safety. They determine the safe use level of each perfume ingredient in Ariel laundry products.
All other perfume components appear under the collective term 'parfum' on labels, and products are formulated with sensitive-skinned customers in mind. Ganahl concludes: 'So next time you enjoy the fresh scent of your laundry, remember the art and science behind every wash.'
