Commercial Perfumes Research Articles

Eco-Friendly Fungal Chitosan-Silica Dual-Shell Microcapsules with Tailored Mechanical and Barrier Properties for Potential Consumer Product Applications.

Commercial perfume microcapsules are becoming popular across the globe to fulfill consumers' demands. However, most of microcapsules rely on synthetic polymers and/or animal-sourced ingredients to form the shells. Therefore, replacement of the shell materials is imperative to minimize environmental microplastic pollution, as well as to meeting peoples' needs, religious beliefs, and lifestyles. Herein, we report a methodology to fabricate environmentally benign dual-shell (fungal chitosan-SiO2) microcapsules laden with fragrance oil (hexyl salicylate). Anionically stabilized oil droplets were coated with fungal chitosan via interfacial electrostatic interactions at pH 2, which were then covered by an inorganic coating of SiO2 produced via external alkaline mineralization of sodium silicate. Core-shell microcapsules with a spherical morphology were achieved. Under compression, dual-shell chitosan-SiO2 microcapsules yielded a mean nominal rupture stress of 3.0 ± 0.2 MPa, which was significantly higher than that of single-shell microcapsules (1.7 ± 0.2 MPa). After 20 days in neutral pH water, only ∼2.5% of the oil was released from dual-shell microcapsules, while single-shell microcapsules cumulatively released more than 10%. These findings showed that the additional SiO2 coating significantly enhanced both mechanical and barrier properties of microcapsules, which may be appealing for multiple commercial applications, including cosmetics and detergents.

Classification and Identification of Perfume Scents by an Enantioselective Colorimetric Sensor Array of Chiral Metal-Organic-Framework-Based Fabry-Pérot Films.

Many odors, like perfumes, are complex mixtures of chiral and achiral molecules where the cost-efficient (enantio-)selective sensing represents a major technical challenge. Here, we present a colorimetric sensor array of surface-mounted metal-organic-framework (SURMOF) films in Fabry-Pérot (FP) cavities. The optical properties of the FP-SURMOF films with different chiral and achiral structures are affected by the (enantio-)selective adsorption of the analytes in the SURMOF pores, resulting in different responses to the analyte molecules. The read-out of the sensor array is performed by the digital camera of a common smartphone, where the RGB values are determined. By analyzing the sensor array data with simple machine learning algorithms, the analytes are discriminated. After demonstrating the enantioselective response for a pair of pure chiral odor molecules, we apply the sensor array to detect and discriminate a large number (16) of common commercial perfumes and eau de toilettes. While our untrained human nose is not able to discriminate all perfumes, the presented colorimetric sensor array can classify all perfumes with great classification accuracy. Moreover, the sensor array was used to identify unlabeled samples correctly. We foresee such an FP-chiral-SURMOF-based sensor array as a powerful approach toward inexpensive selective odors sensing applications.

Comparison of the Effect of Kaolin and Bentonite Clay (Raw, Acid-Treated, and Metal-Impregnated) on the Pyrolysis of Waste Tire.

This study investigates the effectiveness of kaolin and bentonite catalysts in improving liquid hydrocarbon yields during the pyrolysis of waste tires. Raw clay, nitric acid-treated clay, and mono- or bimetal-impregnated clay were used as catalysts in the pyrolysis of waste tire. Acid-treated kaolin produced a higher yield of liquid hydrocarbons (43.24-47%) compared to acid-treated bentonite (35.34-41.85%). This improvement in the liquid yield can be attributed to the higher specific surface area and pore diameter of the acid-treated clay in comparison to raw kaolin (39.48%) and raw bentonite (31.62%). Moreover, the use of metal-impregnated catalysts, such as Fe/kaolin and Ni/Fe/kaolin, resulted in higher liquid yields (47%) compared to the 3 M HNO3-treated kaolin catalyst (43.24%). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis confirmed the presence of limonene, a crucial ingredient for commercial perfume production, in the liquid products. The calorific values of oil obtained through kaolin and bentonite catalysis were measured at 13,922 and 10,174 kcal/kg, respectively, further highlighting the potential of these catalysts in waste tire valorization.

NEOS: An odour-induced affect scale for use in the cosmetic industry.

This work proposes an odour-induced affect scale for use in the cosmetic industry that relies on the approach that produced the UniGEOS, a universal odour-related emotional scale from the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences. The Natura Emotion and Odor Scale (NEOS) was built on experiments conducted with a larger set of participants (491) and a set of 35 scents that combine seven commercial perfumes from Natura & Co cosmetic company with 28 odours from different olfactory classes important for the cosmetic industry. The results showed the stability of 60 Emotion-Related terms in Brazilian Portuguese split into five emotion-related dimensions: Romance, Attention, Energy, Well-being and Negative feelings. The association of the scents evoking these five dimensions has direct implications in the design of new products.

Hydrophobic and Rapid-Response Sensor Inks: Array-Based Fingerprinting of Perfumes.

Counterfeited perfumes mixed with inexpensive additives for commercial purposes pose a great threat to cosmetic market competition and human health. Herein, a 24-element, solid-state colorimetric sensor array employing chemo-responsive dye inks for accurate discrimination of a variety of fragrance bases and "sniffing out" real perfumes from adulterated samples was first reported. The physiochemical robustness and gas response kinetics of the sensor array were optimized with the streamlined design of the channel geometry and hydrophobic modification of the sensor substrate. A unique and distinguishable color change profile was obtained within 2 min exposure of diluted vapor that enabled clear fingerprinting of chemically similar perfume samples. Four commercial perfume products were successfully distinguished and categorized according to their similarity to relevant perfume bases using chemometric methods including hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis. The sensor array also allows the discrimination of ethanol-diluted fragrance bases from the pristine sample, revealing its potential for quality assurance of perfumes and other cosmetics. Such easy-to-use, disposable, and miniaturized chemical sensing detectors therefore prove exceptionally valuable for fast analysis of luxuries such as perfumes and other industrial products with complex chemical compositions.

Parallel Operation of Electron Ionization and Chemical Ionization for GC-MS Using a Single TOF Mass Analyzer.

This work describes a novel mass spectrometer coupled to gas chromatography (GC-MS) that simultaneously displays the mass spectral information of electron (EI)- and chemical ionization (CI)-generated ion populations for a single chromatographic peak. After GC separation, the eluent is equally split and supplied in parallel to an EI and a novel CI source, both operating continuously. Precise switching of the ion optics provides the exact timing to consecutively extract the respective ion population from both sources and transfer them into a time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer. This technique enables the acquisition of complementary information from both ion populations (EI and CI) within a single chromatographic run and with sufficient data points to retain the chromatographic fidelity. The carefully designed GC transfer setup, fast ion optical switching, and synchronized TOF data acquisition system provide an automatic and straightforward spectral alignment of two ion populations. With an eluent split ratio of about 50% between the two ion sources, instrument detection limits of <40 fg on the column (octafluoronaphthalene) for the EI and <2 pg (benzophenone) for the CI source were obtained. The system performance and the additional analytical value for compound identification are demonstrated by means of different common GC standard mixtures and a commercial perfume sample of unknown composition.

Rapid Analysis of Trace Phthalates by Spray-Inlet Microwave Plasma Torch Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Commercial Perfumes.

The less volatile fraction of perfumes is susceptible to contamination by phthalate esters (PAEs), which are endocrine-disrupting chemicals encountered during the production, bottling, and transportation processes. There is a need to establish an innovative and rapid method for the determination of trace PAEs in commercial perfumes. Therefore, self-built spray-inlet microwave plasma torch (MPT) ionization coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) tandem MS (MS/MS) was developed for the direct analysis of PAEs in perfumes without sample pretreatment. Perfumes were sprayed directly onto the flame of the MPT by means of a sampling pump at a rate of 10 µL/min and the ions produced by the MPT were introduced into the QTOF-MS equipment with the MPT operating at 2450 MHz and 40 W at a flow rate of 800 ml/min of argon. For the established method, excellent linearity was obtained with a correlation coefficient of 0.9799 for di-n-pentyl phthalate and of greater than 0.99 for the other substances tested. The LOD and LOQ obtained were in the ranges of 1.452-18.96 and 4.839-63.19 ng/g, respectively. The spiked recoveries of PAEs ranged from 100.1 to 105.2% with satisfactory intraday RSDs and interday RSDs ranging from 1.51 to 4.34% and 3.45 to 5.65%, respectively. PAEs in commercial perfumes were successfully detected by spray-inlet MPT-MS/MS with low concentrations ranging from 0.036 to 1.352 µg/g. The method is a promising tool for the on-site analysis of PAEs in cosmetic solutions requiring rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of the commercial perfume samples within 30 s, and displayed the merits of simplicity, sensitivity, environmental friendliness and ease of operation.

Antifungal activity of commercial perfumes and their fragrance (under in vitro and in vivo) against Alternaria solani, a leaf blight pathogen of potato

Antifungal activity of commercial perfumes and their fragrance (under in vitro and in vivo) against Alternaria solani, a leaf blight pathogen of potato

Preliminary observations on the use of a novel low duty cycle flow modulator for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

The present research is focused on the preliminary evaluation, in particular in relation to the advisable operational conditions, of a novel low duty cycle flow modulator. In such a respect, a fast comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method is herein proposed. Applications on a C7-C30 series of alkanes, 64 fragrance allergens (plus 2 internal standards), and 5 perfumes, were carried out by using two different column sets, low-polarity + medium-polarity and low-polarity + low-polarity. In both cases, the first column was of dimensions 10 m × 0.25 mm ID × 0.25 µm df, while the second one was of dimensions 1 m × 0.10 mm ID × 0.10 µm df. A modulation period of 700 ms, with a re-injection period of 80 ms, was used in order to obtain a higher duty cycle (measured to be approx. 0.04). Absolute quantification of the allergens was carried out by using two internal standards, namely 1,4-dibromobenzene and 4,4’-dibromobiphenyl. In terms of limits of quantification the instrumental response was characterized by a wide variability, ranging between 9 ppb and 5.4 ppm for both column sets. A total number of 97 fragrance allergens were identified and quantified in five commercial perfumes.

Understanding the Perceptual Spectrum of Commercial Perfumes as a Basis for a Standard Sensory Wheel of Fragrances

Given the enormous number of perfumes available on the market, it is of interest to guide consumers in their purchase of a new fragrance. One approach is to project the multidimensional perceptual space of scents on a two-dimensional sensory map based on meaningful dimensions. One of the pioneering studies on this issue mapped 94 commercial perfumes according to two axes. Such an odor map is discussed here in detail by applying Principal Component Analysis to the numeric odor description of 176 fragrances. Quantitative odor profiles were obtained from Fragrantica’s website and three fragrances guides published by Haarmann &amp; Reimer, Michael Edwards, and the French Society of Perfumers. A sensory map was obtained that reflected the similarities and dissimilarities between those odor descriptors most commonly used in perfumery. This representation was consistent with other related plots that have been previously reported. One dimension discriminated between fragrances targeted at men versus women. An orthogonal factor distinguished perfumes for daytime versus nighttime wear. These ratings, as well as seasonal preferences, could be estimated based on the main odor character attributes applied to describe the scent. The results provide a scientific basis for the comprehensive classification of commercial perfumes compiled by Edwards according to his famous “Fragrance Wheel”.

Ionic liquids as water-compatible GC stationary phases for the analysis of fragrances and essential oils: Quantitative GC–MS analysis of officially-regulated allergens in perfumes

Qualitative and quantitative determination of volatile markers in aqueous based fragrances assumes ever-increasing importance, because of both the need for quality control and the safety-regulatory limitations introduced for several compounds. This study reports and critically discusses the results of applying new water-compatible ionic-liquid (IL) GC stationary phases, based on phosphonium and imidazolium derivative cations combined with trifluoromethanesulphonate (Watercol™) to the direct quantitative analysis of aqueous samples in the perfume field with GC–MS. Narrow-bore columns of different lengths, especially prepared for this study, were adopted to minimize the amount of water reaching the MS detector after GC separation. All GC–MS analysis steps were investigated, to achieve results compatible with quality control requirements for the volatiles of interest in this field, in terms of LODs, LOQs, and repeatability. Reliability of the GC–MS results was demonstrated by determining volatile allergens in two commercial perfumes, as per EU regulations concerning no-declaration limits for leave-on (0.001%) and rinse-off (0.01%) cosmetic products.

Development of a HS-SPME/GC–MS method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds from fabrics for forensic reconstruction applications

An analytical method for the determination of trace amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) relevant to the cosmetics industry was optimised, validated and employed for the analysis of commercial perfumes. The method used a combination of headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In addition to fibre type, three different HS-SPME extraction conditions were investigated simultaneously, namely incubation time, extraction time and extraction temperature, using a central composite design in order to determine the optimal conditions for the extraction of VOCs of interest. The main figures of merit of the proposed method (calibration range, limits of detection and quantification, trueness and precision) were evaluated for six different VOCs in both natural and synthetic fibres in order to validate it and verify its capability for the proposed application. The validated method was applied for the analysis of traces of commercial perfumes from fabrics, and the VOCs of interest were successfully quantified. This simple, highly sensitive, and robust method has the potential to represent a powerful approach for forensic reconstructions where perfumes have transferred between individuals, such as during assaults and sexual assaults.

Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry: A Tandem Detection Approach for Improved Identification of Gas Chromatography-Eluting Compounds.

For wide class characterizations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), conventional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based techniques are utilized. These GC-MS-based chemical identification approaches typically rely on library searches against ion fragmentation patterns of known compounds. Although MS library searches can often provide correct chemical identities, erroneous chemical assignments of structurally similar unknown compounds are also possible. Other detection systems, such as absorption spectrometers, have been used for VOC analysis and can provide complementary absorption data. Here, we demonstrate the analytical advantages of coupling vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectroscopy and MS in tandem for the improved characterization of structurally similar VOCs. We also discuss technical considerations and limitations of coupling a VUV spectrometer to a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Moreover, we show that combining the isomer selectivity of VUV spectroscopy, as a nondestructive analyte detection approach, with the mass selectivity of MS in a VUV-MS detection system improves characterization of GC-eluting compounds. Utilizing GC/VUV-MS data, we demonstrate that orthogonal VUV and MS library searches improve identification of VOCs present in complex mixtures such as a mixed standard sample, a commercial perfume product, and an essential oil sample.

Resistance of Aerosolized Bacterial Viruses to Four Germicidal Products.

Viral diseases can spread through a variety of routes including aerosols. Yet, limited data are available on the efficacy of aerosolized chemicals to reduce viral loads in the air. Bacteriophages (phages) are often used as surrogates for hazardous viruses in aerosol studies because they are inexpensive, easy to handle, and safe for laboratory workers. Moreover, several of these bacterial viruses display physical characteristics similar to pathogenic human and animal viruses, like morphological size, type of nucleic acids, capsid morphology, and the presence of an envelope. In this study, the efficacy of four chemicals was evaluated on four airborne phages at two different relative humidity levels. Non-tailed bacteriophages MS2 (single-stranded RNA), ϕ6 (double-stranded RNA, enveloped), PR772 (double-stranded DNA), and ϕX174 (single-stranded DNA) were first aerosolized in a 55L rotative environmental chamber at 19°C with 25% and 50% relative humidity. Then, hydrogen peroxide, Eugenol (phenylpropene used in commercial perfumes and flavorings), Mist® (automobile disinfectant containing Triethylene glycol), and Pledge® (multisurface disinfectant containing Isopropanol, n-Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Amonium Chlorides, and n-Alkyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride) were nebulized with the phages using a separate nebulizer. Aerosols were maintained in suspension during 10 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours. Viral aerosols were sampled using an SKC BioSampler and samples were analyzed using qPCR and plaque assays. The resistance levels of the four phages varied depending on the relative humidity (RH) and germicidal products tested. Phage MS2 was the most stable airborne virus under the environmental conditions tested while phage PR772 was the least stable. Pledge® and Eugenol reduced the infectivity of all airborne phages tested. At 25% RH, Pledge® and Eugenol were more effective at reducing infectivity of RNA phages ϕ6 and MS2. At 50% RH, Pledge® was the most effective agent against phage MS2. These findings illustrate that various airborne viruses should be tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of germicidal treatments. This research also provides a set of parameters for testing germicidal products in large-scale settings to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

A controllable selective cataluminescence sensor for diethyl ether using mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles

Development of selective cataluminescence (CTL) sensors toward volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is of great importance to environmental analysis and daily chemicals safety. Although some reports for the determination of VOCs based on CTL have been reported, part of them suffered relatively low selectivity because of their high sensitivity toward interferents. In this study, mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles have been exploited to detect diethyl ether with the usage of a 440nm bandpass filter. The proposed method showed high selectivity toward diethyl ether over other VOCs, such as acetaldehyde, acetone, butanone and butanol, etc. Such a high selectivity was majorly attributed to the difference of CTL emission profiles of various VOCs reaction intermediates, and only diethyl ether exhibited strong CTL emission at about 440nm. Under the optimal conditions, diethyl ether could be detected ranging from 2.0 to 50.0mM. Furthermore, the practical application of this proposed CTL sensor for diethyl ether was validated with artificial samples and commercial perfumes. In general, such a simple method with high selective detection through controlling detection range could be extended to other analytes.

Four-stage (low-)flow modulation comprehensive gas chromatography⿿quadrupole mass spectrometry for the determination of recently-highlighted cosmetic allergens

The present research is based on the development and use of a flow-modulation (FM) comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography⿿quadrupole mass spectrometry (GCÿGC⿿qMS) method for the determination of recently-highlighted (by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) fragrance allergens (54) in cosmetics. FM GCÿGC⿿qMS conditions were finely tuned to generate flow conditions (⿿7mLmin⿿1) compatible with the qMS system used. Six-point calibration curves, over the range 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100mgL⿿1, were constructed for the 54 target allergens, with satisfactory linearity observed in all cases. Absolute quantification was performed by using extracted ions; target analyte identification was performed through measurement of ion ratios (qualifier/quantifier), full-scan MS database matching and the use of linear retention indices. Additional analytical figures of merit subjected to measurement were intra-day repeatability, accuracy at the 25 and 5mgL⿿1 levels, and limits of detection and quantification. The number of data points per peak, along with mass spectral skewing, was also subjected to evaluation. Finally, the FM GCÿGC⿿qMS method was used not only for the quantification of target allergens in five commercial perfumes, but also for general qualitative profiling.

Underlying dimensions in the perceptual space of perfumery odors

The perceptual space of odors is highly multidimensional, and consequently it is difficult to reach a consensus about how to develop two-dimensional (2D) sensory odor maps. The problem is simplified if we focus on a subset of smells (e.g., odors of wine, beer, cheese, etc.), and many sensory maps have been proposed for such perceptual subspaces. Perfumes cover a wide spectrum of odor qualities, but they are obviously biased towards pleasant non-food scents. Various sensory maps have been proposed in the literature for those odor descriptors most frequently applied in perfumery, but no standard exists yet. The multivariate statistical analysis of odor profile databases provides valuable information to better understand the underlying dimensions of olfactory perception space. The analysis of two odor databases, compiled in the context of perfumery, is presented. The first one contains numeric odor profiles of 309 compounds based on 30 descriptors. The loading plot corresponding to the first and second principal components can be regarded as a sensory map of odor descriptors. Similar results were obtained in the analysis of another database, which comprises 66 descriptors and contains the semantic descriptions of 119 perfume materials. Results were compared with a 2D fragrance mapping reported in the literature, with Jellinek’s Odor Effects Diagram as well as with Edwards’ Fragrance Wheel, which classifies commercial perfumes into 14 categories. A striking consistency was observed in all cases [1], which indicates that it is possible to develop standard 2D sensory maps of perfumery odor descriptors if a consensus is first reached regarding which odorants best represent particular odor qualities. One underlying dimension discriminates scents as feminine versus masculine. The other one differentiates cool/refreshing vs. warm odors, which might reflect a perceptual construct related with temperature. It is well known by perfumers that scents perceived as ‘cooling’ and ‘refreshing’ (e.g. citrus and green notes) tend to evaporate quickly. Conversely, those described as ‘warm’ (e.g., oriental, powdery, erogenic and animalic scents) are tenacious. Tenacity or substantivity is the parameter that measures the lasting property of a material when applied on the skin. In a recent study, perceptual olfactory ratings on a ‘fresh’ scale (i.e., cool vs. warm) were compared with substantivity parameters from the literature, and a tight correlation (r = −0.85) was obtained [2]. Assuming that odor perception space was shaped throughout evolution in temperate climates, results reported here are consistent with the hypothesis that ‘cool/fresh’ evokes scents typically encountered in the cool season, while ‘warm’ would be evoked by odors found in nature during summer. This hypothesis might reflect the role of olfaction in chronobiological rhythms and may provide a new insight to better understand the perceptual space of perfumery scents.

Electrostatic‐spray ionization mass spectrometry sniffing for perfume fingerprinting

The perfume market is growing significantly, and it is easy to find imitative fragrances of probably all types of perfume. Such imitative fragrances are usually of lower quality than the authentic ones, creating a possible threat for perfume companies. Therefore, it is important to develop efficient chemical analysis techniques to screen rapidly perfume samples. Electrostatic-spray ionization (ESTASI) was used to analyze directly samples sprayed or deposited on different types of paper. A linear ion trap mass spectrometer was used to detect the ions produced by ESTASI with a modified extended transfer capillary for 'sniffing' ions from the paper. Several commercial perfumes and a model perfume were analyzed by ESTASI-sniffing. The results obtained by paper ESTASI-MS of commercial fragrances were compared with those obtained from ESI-MS. In addition, a commercial fragrance was first nebulized on the hand and then soaked up by blotting paper, which was afterwards placed on an insulating plate for ESTASI-MS analysis. Analysis of peptides and proteins was also performed to show that the paper ESTASI-MS could be used for samples with very different molecular masses. Paper ESTASI-MS yields a rapid fingerprinting characterization of perfume fragrances, avoiding time-consuming sample-preparation steps, and thereby performing a rapid screening in a few seconds.

Separation of phthalates by cyclodextrin modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography: Quantitation in perfumes

A new CE method has been developed for the simultaneous separation of a group of parent phthalates. Due to the neutral character of these compounds, the addition of several bile salts as surfactants (sodium cholate (SC), sodium deoxycholate (SDC), sodium taurodeoxycholate (STDC), sodium taurocholate (STC)) to the separation buffer was explored showing the high potential of SDC as pseudostationary phase. However, the resolution of all the phthalates was not achieved when employing only this bile salt as additive, being necessary the addition of neutral cyclodextrins (CD) and organic modifiers to the separation media. The optimized cyclodextrin modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CD-MEKC) method consisted of the employ of a background electrolyte (BGE) containing 25mM β-CD-100mM SDC in a 100mM borate buffer (pH 8.5) with a 10% (v/v) of acetonitrile, employing a voltage of 30kV and a temperature of 25°C. This separation medium enabled the total resolution of eight compounds and the partial resolution of two of the analytes, di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) and diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) (Rs~0.8), in only 12min. The analytical characteristics of the developed method were studied showing their suitability for the determination of these compounds in commercial perfumes. In all the analyzed perfumes the most common phthalate was diethyl phthalate (DEP) that appeared in ten of the fifteen analyzed products. Also dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diallyl phthalate (DAP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCP), and di-n-pentyl phthalate (DNPP) were found in some of the analyzed samples.

A rapid and sensitive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the quality control of perfumes: simultaneous determination of phthalates

A rapid and sensitive analytical gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for perfume analysis to determine the phthalates banned by the European Union Regulation on cosmetic samples is presented. This method has been tested in commercial alcoholic perfume samples for the determination of the following seven phthalates: dibutyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate, n-pentyl-isopentylphthalate, di-n-pentyl phthalate, diisopentylphthalate and benzyl butyl phthalate. Sample evaporation and redissolution in ethanol is carried out before GC-MS analysis, with no dilution of the sample. External calibration and standard addition calibration are compared to detect possible matrix effects. External calibration could provide good results in some cases but standard addition calibration is recommended as matrix effects are observed in many cases in the determination of the target phthalates. The accuracy of the method has been proven by the analysis of quality control samples prepared from commercial free phthalate perfumes after spiking with known concentrations of the analytes. Accurate results were obtained with limits of detection in the ng mL−1 range and good repeatability (relative standard deviations lower than 6%). The method was satisfactorily applied to the analysis of commercial perfume samples, and the results revealed considerable amounts of dibutyl phthalate and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in some of the analyzed samples.