A Standardized Analytical Framework for Perfume and Deodorant Trace Evidence in Forensic Science

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-610-4_56How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Forensic chemistry; perfume residues; deodorant traces; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); GC–MS; HS–SPME; FTIR; persistence analysis; transfer mechanisms

Abstract

Fragrance traces on perfumes and deodorants are becoming a recognised and yet not extensively studied types of chemical trace evidence in forensic science. These products have varying blends of volatile and semi-volatile products, including alcohols, esters, aldehydes, fixatives, and additives, which may last long on surfaces to facilitate any association between people, objects and environments. Despite the fact that different analytical tools have been applied in the analysis of such residues, the lack of a uniform methodological framework constrains their dependability and interpretation measures. This review synthesizes and assesses existing instrumental methods, such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) as well as fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), based on their sensitivities and their ability to detect traces at the trace level. Persistence and transfer studies also find their way in the synthesis of the findings to explain the behavior of the fragrance compounds on various substrates and the effect of various environmental conditions. Upon this evaluation, this paper will present an analytical framework that is structured to enhance consistency, comparability, and evidentiary strength of the analysis of trace evidence of perfume and deodorants in the context of the forensic profession. Introduction Forensic chemistry, also called fragrance analysis, involves the analysis of perfume, deodorant, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and analyzing the transfer of these substances onto different surfaces. Forensic chemistry is closely connected with fragrance analysis, perfume analysis, and crime scene analysis.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - M. R. Architha
AU  - Srinivasa Rao Gundu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/05
TI  - A Standardized Analytical Framework for Perfume and Deodorant Trace Evidence in Forensic Science
BT  - Proceedings of the First International Conference on Advances in Forensics and Cyber Technologies (ICFACT 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 684
EP  - 703
SN  - 2352-538X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-610-4_56
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-610-4_56
ID  - Architha2026
ER  -