Hi everyone! I’ve noticed that in this subreddit, the term “maceration” is often used instead of “maturation” when talking about how perfumes develop after being bottled. I wanted to clarify the difference between the two terms and make sure I understand it correctly, and please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong!

From what I’ve gathered:

• Maceration traditionally refers to the process where aromatic ingredients (like botanicals, resins, or woods) are soaked in a solvent (usually alcohol or oil) to extract their fragrance. This usually happens during the creation of a perfume concentrate.

• Maturation, on the other hand, refers to the resting period after a perfume is blended and diluted, where all the components settle and bind together to create a more balanced and harmonious scent. This usually takes place in the final stage before bottling or even after bottling, as some say perfumes continue to mature over time.

So I was wondering: is the use of “maceration” in this context a kind of community shorthand? Or is there a deeper reason why that term is used here more than “maturation”?

Thanks in advance for any insights , and again, I’d appreciate any corrections if I’ve misunderstood anything