The Dynamics of Flavour Industry

The Dynamics of Flavour Industry
Humans are decisively influenced by their sense of taste and odour and human history is, therefore, closely tied to the development and usage of flavors.

Whereas in prehistoric times, only herbs and spices could be employed for flavouring purposes today a broad spectrum of flavourings is available, but only for use in the individual house, but especially for the production of food on an industrial scale.

The application of all products from the flavour and fragrance industry is solely aimed at enhancing the human striving for increase pleasure and sensual enjoyment. Hedonistic aspects, therefore, form the basis of our industry.

The roots of this industry date back to early Egyptian history, as this extraordinary advanced civilizations was already thoroughly aware of and acquainted with perfumery and the embalming characteristics of certain spices and resins.

Simple methods foe the distillation and extraction of essential oils and resins were already known in pre –Christian times and subsequently elaborated by the Arabs.

Balsamic oils produced by these methods were later on primarily used for pharmaceutical purposes; it was not before the times of the courtly period that fragrance was an aspect of growing importance.

In the medieval age, mostly monks were the pioneers in the art of capturing natural essences and transforming them into substances capable of flavouring food.

The onset of the industrial production of essential oils can be dated back to the first half of the 19th century.

After the importance of single aroma chemicals was recognized in the middle of the century, efforts were started to isolate such compounds from corresponding natural resource for the first time.

This was soon followed by the synthesis of aroma chemicals.

From this starting points, the flavour and fragrance industry first developed in Europe, expanded to the USA and later reached an international scope.
The Dynamics of Flavour Industry