Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am doing "Scintillating Scents: The Science of Making Perfume" for my science fair. Can I use in this project other ingredients than flower petals? e.g. vanilla sticks or cucumber?

Hi emily2006,

While your idea sounds great, unfortunately it might not work that well in this system. In this experiment, you're basically transferring oil from petals into the shortening, so a vanilla stick might not work to well, but I'd go ahead and try a cucumber peel or any citrus peel (orange, lemon, grapefruit).

Good luck and have fun!

Peter S.