The Overlooked Influence of Perfumery in Organic Chemistry.

STRAIN theory (Chemistry); ORGANIC chemistry; NOBEL Prize in Chemistry; CYCLIC compounds; RESEARCH personnel; COLORING matter in food; ODORS

The article explores the overlooked influence of perfumery in the work of organic chemists Leopold Ružička and Wallace Carothers. Historian Galina Shyndriayeva discovered that their development of synthetic musks for fragrances laid the foundation for their later groundbreaking work in polymer research. Despite the significant role of perfumery in their careers, biographies of Ružička and Carothers often downplay or omit their connections to the fragrance industry. Shyndriayeva suggests that the association with feminine luxury products may have contributed to this oversight. The article highlights the importance of considering marginalized topics and materials in the history of scientific innovations. [Extracted from the article]

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