The post-World War II era saw a synthetic boom in perfumery, beginning in 1950, as new synthetic materials became available. This expansion allowed for greater creativity and affordability in fragrance development, as traditional ingredients were often scarce due to wartime shortages. The introduction of synthetic compounds revolutionized the perfume industry, leading to a wide variety of scents and formulations.

The post-WWII synthetic boom in perfumery in 1950 reflected themes of reconstruction and hybrid identities in global poetry. Poets like Octavio Paz and Adrienne Rich used fragrance as a metaphor for memory and identity, exploring the complexities of modern life.