Analysis of transferred fragrance and its forensic implications

Abstract Perfumes are widely used by many people in developed countries, and a large number of both men and women wear perfumes on a daily basis. Analysis of perfume trace materials from clothing is not commonly employed within forensic casework, yet as a form of trace evidence it has the potential...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScience & justice Vol. 56; no. 6; pp. 413 - 420
Main Authors Gherghel, Simona, Morgan, Ruth M, Blackman, Christopher S, Karu, Kersti, Parkin, Ivan P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier B.V 01.12.2016
Subjects
Evidence dynamics
Experimental studies
Forensic science
Forensic Sciences - methods
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Humans
Pathology
Perfume - chemistry
Perfume analysis
Time Factors
Trace evidence
Transfer
Trace evidence
Transfer
Evidence dynamics
Experimental studies
Forensic science
Perfume analysis
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Summary:Abstract Perfumes are widely used by many people in developed countries, and a large number of both men and women wear perfumes on a daily basis. Analysis of perfume trace materials from clothing is not commonly employed within forensic casework, yet as a form of trace evidence it has the potential to provide valuable intelligence. In order to appreciate the value of trace evidence there is a fundamental need for an evidence base that can both offer insight into how a trace material behaves under different scenarios and activities, and from which inferences can be made. With this purpose a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for trace analysis of perfumes was developed. This paper presents two different series of experiments that investigate the dynamics of perfume transfer as a factor of perfume ageing time, and as a factor of perfume contact time. Empirical data showed that both perfume ageing time, and perfume contact time play a key role in the number of perfume components transferred. These studies have implication for forensic protocols, specifically for perfume trace evidence collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation, and there is potentially great value in analysing perfumes from clothing exhibits in forensic enquiries that involve close contact between individuals, such as sexual assaults.
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ISSN:1355-0306
1876-4452
DOI:10.1016/j.scijus.2016.08.004