SUMMARY
01. Softact, an extraction process
02. The advantages of softact
If the world of perfumery fascinates you, you might want to learn more. Before being fully developed, a fragrance must undergo a rather complex process. To learn everything about perfume-making techniques and what goes on behind the scenes, click here!
Softact, an extraction process
To extract the raw materials they will use to create their fragrances, perfume houses can use softact, a CO2 extraction. If chemistry wasn't your strong point in high school, don't panic, we're here to enlighten you! This extraction technique allows you to recover the essential oil contained in a product using carbon dioxide in a "supercritical" state (don't worry, it's simply a fourth physical state, halfway between liquid and gas!).
Concretely, the extraction of the raw material is carried out at high pressure and at a moderate temperature (around 31°C) in order to preserve all the molecules. The raw material is placed in cylindrical baskets equipped with filters at each end. Once the baskets are in the extractor, the CO2 circulates in a liquid state in order to dissolve the essential oil present in the raw material. Once the pressure is reduced, the CO2 returns to a gaseous state and the odorous extracts can be recovered in the separator.
The advantages of softact
An innovative process, certainly, but what's so special about it? We'll tell you everything!
Respect for raw materials
This process is known for being quite gentle: it allows for an absolute to be obtained that is relatively close to the natural scent of the raw material. By preserving the quality of the latter, we obviously obtain better quality scents.
An environmentally friendly process
Eco-friendly, Softact produces no greenhouse gases. CO2 is a solvent considered non-hazardous and non-flammable. It can be recycled, earning it the nickname "green solvent."
In addition to softact, other extraction processes exist . Enfleurage , distillation , expression or even nature print … It’s up to you to discover them to better understand the world of perfume!
