A new perfume is to be created based on scents rescued from the world's most famous shipwreck.

Analysts are working to produce the perfume using fragrances lifted from the hull of the Titanic, two-and-a-half miles deep on the ocean bed.

The perfume essences were in 80 delicate glass phials, most of which were still undamaged 88 years after the sinking.

They were among the latest haul of artefacts brought to the surface by Graham Jessop, son of the famous Keighley deep sea diver Keith "Goldfinder" Jessop,

Graham Jessop is the recovery manager for RMS Titanic, the international company responsible for the historic preservation of the luxury liner.

The phials of perfume have been gently lifted to the surface - after laying untouched since the huge liner struck an iceberg and sank in April 1912.

Of the 2,220 people on board, 1,513 died in the freezing waters south of the grand banks of Newfoundland.

Mr Jessop, said: "When we lifted the phials, we could smell it. They had been two-and-a-half miles down but they were intact apart from one - and the name of the manufacturer was still on them.

"We are having the perfume analysed to create a unique Titanic fragrance."

The rescued container of phials contained pure extracts in different compartments and had been in the possession of a salesman travelling from Manchester.

His aim had been to market them in the USA and then return to the UK to have them manufactured in bulk.

"It is the smell of that perfume which really captures the Titanic for me.

"Seeing the sunken vessel through the porthole of a sub is a bit like seeing it on television. But experiencing that smell brings it all home," said Mr Jessop.

Denis Cochrane, the company's historic adviser said the salesman was Adolf Saalfeld, who survived the sinking and went on to set up his company.

He said: "A lot of people are going to be excited about this project.

"The smell of the perfumes in the laboratory was incredible. To think they had been on the seabed all those years yet were in such good condition is amazing.

"I think it's a wonderful idea to produce a perfume. To me it would bring Mr Saalfeld back to life again.

"His granddaughter, whom I have met, is thrilled and delighted."

Keighley-born Mr Jessop, who now lives in France, saw the phials when making his first dive to the wreck.

He said the vessel was rapidly deteriorating and rivers of rust could be seen pouring down the sides of the hull. "It is a race against time to recover all the important artefacts before they are lost forever.

"We hope to have the recovery project completed in time for an exhibition to celebrate the centenary of its sinking in 2012," he added.

He estimated there were 5,000 artefacts which would need to be conserved although some were still in remarkably good condition. Mr Jessop's father Keith spearheaded the discovery of the World War Two wreck HMS Edinburgh in the Arctic Ocean and the recovery of £44 million of gold bullion.