Junior Workshop Highlights

The project: For my Junior Workshop project, I combined scientific research with creative experimentation to create my own perfume that was both sustainable and nontoxic.

The inspiration: My mom works in public health and knows a lot about different products and she’s always telling me what to buy and what not to buy. She thinks it's really important to not use products that have harmful ingredients, so her passion for the topic inspired me. I was also interested in the ingredients that are in everyday things – not just personal care products, but food as well. 

The process: I started out wanting to make a perfume that’s not harmful, because a lot of fragrances have carcinogens or other types of chemicals in them that over time can be detrimental to your health. I went through a process of trying to find the most natural, organic ingredients that I could. A lot of my project was measuring out the samples I had and trying to balance the ingredients in the perfume. I did a lot of trial and error to test out what scents I liked, and how I wanted them to be balanced with the perfumer’s alcohol base. I also observed what scents lasted versus which ones changed over time. I made a number of different fragrances, and then I ended up with one final one that was my favorite, which I named Opal. It has a floral scent made with notes of cashmere wood, eau de rose, and hanami (cherry blossom). 

I also made a website around my project that documented my process and research. I wrote one blog that explains what carcinogens are, and another one that talks about famous perfumes that have harmful ingredients in them.

What I learned: Through this process, I learned about myself and what I’m interested in. I started off not really knowing what I wanted to do, and then, as I brainstormed ideas for my project, I decided to explore my scientific interests. I’m usually a very creative person, but it was fun to experiment with a more science-based project. I also learned a lot based on the trial and error that I went through and the mistakes I may have made along the way. Being able to do a project where I had a lot of support and was able to get consistent feedback was the most valuable part of the experience. If I wasn’t able to be critiqued by my advisor or my peers, I don’t think I would have ended up with a product that I felt was as successful. 

What’s next: One day in the future, I'd like to make and market an actual product. I would be interested in selling the perfume I created, because though I only made a prototype, there was a lot of interest in buying it. I'd also like to explore the more creative side of the process, like how to market the product online.