Embark on a fragrant journey through time, tracing the evolution of perfume. From its ancient origins to its modern manifestations, explore how this aromatic art form has been shaped by cultural, social, and technological changes.
Perfume is a powerful tool to express our personality, build our self-image and engage with others.
The history of perfume goes back to the ancient Egyptians
- They utilized scents to celebrate prayers and religious ceremony by burning essential oils, resin, and perfumed unguents
- During the period of the ancient Greeks, the perfume leaves its religious rituals and begins to accompany everyday life of common people
- In Rome, thanks to the continuous conquests and expeditions, they begin to feel the influence of the different cultures and customs that become gradually assimilated
Perfume was born as an expression of the rite and prerogative of an élite but over the centuries undergoes a gradual democratization
Nowadays, perfume is not a trait of the wealthy class anymore, but it accompanies everyday life as a unique and original expression of our identity
- The same need for uniqueness is required by companies that today can no longer ignore the experiential and sensorial dimension
Roman Baths
Access to Roman baths allowed anyone to wash and apply perfumed oils and unguents
- One of the most important innovations attributed to the Romans is the use of blown glass containers for perfumes
- This material is odorless and easy to shape, so glasses could be made in different shapes and colors and perfect to contain the first scented oils
Renaissance
The invention of distillation allowed to replace the oil with alchol as a perfume carrier
- Perfume in Western cultures
- Essences and aromatized waters were used as a cure for some diseases, but their main purpose was to perfume the body, environments and also leather accessories such as gloves and belts.
Perfume continues to play a key role also in the Oriental culture
Among the Arabs it is common to use fragrances for personal use, to accompany purification rituals or as an air freshener.
- Arabs are also the inventors of the alembic and responsible for the diffusion throughout Europe of the ancient art of distillation.
- The history of perfume involves also the Far East.
The discovery of the New World and the India Way brought to Europe vanilla, cocoa, cinnamon and ginger
These precious commodities, in addition to the ones already available in the Mediterranean area, were used by Spanish and Italian perfumers, who soon began to move to France as well.
- In Venice, a thriving trade of spices and aromas developed, which soon made Italy the leading destination for luxury perfume.
The History of Perfume
Thanks to intense trade with the East, the history of perfume continues throughout the dark ages at the beginning of the Middle Ages.
- Incense continues to be used even outside of Catholicism’s sacred rituals, and the aromas are exchanged as precious gifts among the élites.
Flowers, aromatic plants and essential oils were used to scent both water for the bath and the water to wash hands before a meal
Especially in the dining rooms there was a water basins with rose or violet petals, and sage, chamomile or rosemary were also used for infusion.
