What’s in a scent? Perfume makers adapt to EU rules

The global high end perfume industry, generating $25 billion in annual sales, is readying itself for EU regulations that will come into force in early 2015. These will ban widely-used ingredients such as oak moss, a natural substance, that was found in the original versions of best-sellers including Chanel’s No.5 and Miss Dior. Perfume creators say they love oak moss for its woody, earthy notes which give it depth and help make scent last longer. Perfume makers will only be allowed to use oak moss from which these two molecules have been removed.