Presentation Details
| Cultural Evolution in Perfumes since 1900 Vahid Satarifard1, Fabian Baumann2, Gigi Minsky3, Laura Sisson4, Lou M.Haux5, Christophe Laudamiel6, Nicholas A.Christakis7. 1Yale Institute for Network Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.2Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.3Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.4Department of Computer Science, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.5Center for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.6DreamAir LLC, Department of Scent Engineering, New York, NY, USA.7Yale Institute for Network Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA |
Abstract
Perfume is a cultural artifact shaped by sociocultural norms, stylistic innovation, and collaborative networks. Using a dataset of over 92,000 commercial fragrances released between the late 19th century and 2024, we explore the long-term dynamics of perfumery and scent design. We identify three epochs in perfumery; the Classic Perfumery Era, the Stagnation Era, and the Industrial Perfumery Era, each characterized by distinct shifts in growth, compositional complexity, and innovation. We examine how classical perfume metrics, such as longevity, sillage, and price, have evolved over time, alongside broader industry shifts such as the rise of unisex fragrances and the expansion of the perfumer’s palette through synthetic ingredients. Our analysis reveals high levels of homophily in the network of perfume collaborations suggesting that scent design is often driven by perfumers using a similar style. Our findings position perfume as a culturally evolving system, akin to music and fashion, through which societies express, communicate, and iterate aesthetic values.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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