A Brief History of Fragrance
History has shown that the ancient Egyptians loved beautiful fragrances. Like the Cypriots, they associated them with the gods and recognized their positive effect on health and well-being. As a sacrifice to Gods, they burned incense and Kyphi (Pronounced as kee-phee) wood to create a sacred atmosphere for their religious rituals and ceremonies. As the fumes wafted through the air, the word perfume literally means ‘through smoke‘ and is derived from the Latin word “per fumus” meaning the very act in which the incense ‘fumes’ scent through smoke. The sweet, pungent aromas wafted through the air, giving the ceremonies a certain reverence and sacredness.
The God of Perfume, Nefertum, was also a god of healing who was said to have eased the suffering of the aging sun god Ra with a bouquet of sacred lotus. He could be described as the world’s first aroma therapist!
Egypt was the world leader in the creation of perfume and was closely associated with the international perfume trade. When Julius Ceaser took control of Egypt, he demonstrated this fact to the Roman people by throwing bottles of precious perfume to the crowd during his triumphant return to Rome. The most highly prized perfumes of the ancient world came from Egypt. Of these, arguably the most popular Susinum ( a perfume based on lily, myrrh, cinnamon), Cyprinum (based upon henna, cardamon, cinnamon, myrrh and southernwood) and Mendelian (myrrh and casia with assorted oils and resins). Mendesian was named after the ancient city of Mendes, and although the perfume was produced in other locations at a later date, the best variety was still thought to be that from Mendes.
The Egyptians also loved Stakte, a perfume with fairly strong aroma of Myrrh, Rhondiniu ( based on a highly popular scent of rose) and a scent simply known as ‘The Egyptian’, which seems to have been based on cinnamon and myrrh with sweet wine. Perfumes were usually stored in beautiful, alabaster bottles, but there is some evidence that blue glass bottles may have also been used.
Scent Ingredients used in religious rituals
The ancient Egyptians utilized scents to celebrate prayers and religious ceremonies by burning essential oils, resins, and perfumed unguents. According to Islamic traditions, men should use fragrances before prayer. Just like the ritual of washing yourself before prayer, the use of perfumes was seen as an attempt to reach a state of maximum purity in order to build relations with Allah. To the contrary, the Middle Ages through Renaissance, fetid odors were indicative of disease, low social rank and moral corruption.
In the 13th Century, Galbanum was burned in incense holders and used to ward off evil spirits. Various SPices and Sandalwood were burned by the Prophets in their sancutauries and Buddists believe that sandalwood incraeses focus and alertness and encourages meditation.
Perfume Links you to Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love!
Fragrances have been a luxury for thousands of years, harking back to 2000 BC Cyprus, where archeologists unearthed tiny alabaster bottles which had concealed perfumes scented with the extracts of lavender, rosemary, pine and coriander amongst others. In those days, the perfumes were strongly linked to the mythological Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, as being a staple of luxury living and love. Aphoridte inspired art, craft and both human and male gods - she was the goddess of beauty and love - so no wonder she is associated with perfume !
A 2003 archeological find at Pyrgos in Cyprus, the island where Aphrodite first stepped foot on land after her birth at sea, discovered a perfume-making workshop from circa 1850 BC, the oldest one in the world. Archeology proves richer information, showing that in ancient Egypt, Palestine and the Roman Empire, the temples almost always had perfume factories nearby producing the great quantities of fragrances they needed.
The Art of Perfumery Through The Ages
Following the use if perume by the Egyptians for their religious ceremonies, other cultures incorporated scented oils, incense and perfumed unguents for their daily rituals for cleanliness and hygiene, and as a symbol of indulgence in the homes of nobility. Queen Cleopatra and Queen Hatshepsut scented their bodies, homes, baths and barges and took perfumes with them to the grave. The Greeks, Romans, Mesopotamians and the Chinese all used perfumes for their personal use and religious ceremonies. Noble Chinese began to use personal perfumes, importing ingredients via the Silk Road. By the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, fragrances usage had begun to spread among the public. These fragrances focused heavily on herbs and spices, many of which were also used for food and medicine, in their homes and places of worship. The Chinese used perfume for disinfectation and purity as they belived that perfume could rid a room of disease. In general, they focused less on anointing their bodies and more on using it to scent the world around them. The word ‘incense’ comes from the Latin ‘incendre’, to burn and the ancients used aromatic plant materials often combined with essential oils to release fragrant smoke when burned. In the 14th Century, Galbanum was used in ornate incense holders which were swung back and forth to ward off evil spirits, and the practice of swinging incense holders continues today in churches.
By the 14th Century, Italians had almost perfected the perfume-making process and liquid perfumes began to replace the solid ones. Marco Polo brought many unique aromatics from his travels which turned Venice into a major fragrance trading post. Catherine de Medici is often credited with bringing perfume to the rest of Europe and had her own perfumer, Rene le Florentin, create a signature scent for her out of orange blossom and bergamot.
Perfume started to become a fashion accessory, and European men and women would wear perfume on their bodies, clothing and wigs. People began incorporating more complex ingredients such as ambergris, civet and musk derived from animals. Since bathing regularly was still an unpopular practice, these scents were used to cover up the scent of body odors.The smell of perfume was in vogue because it helped distinguish the upper classes from the stinking masses!
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We explored a brief history of perfumes over the ages. Now, it's your turn to tell your story through scent! At Sue Phillips Fragrance, we offer custom fragrance experiences with our 18 exquisite blends. Imagine creating a perfume that embodies your essence – a blend that reflects your individuality and persona. The possibilities are endless! Ready to explore YOUR Olfactive Palette of the decade...NOT just for the decade but for all times! Why wear what everyone else wears when you can create your own signature scent!
PERFUME IS THE SIGNATURE OF YOUR SOUL!
Contact Sue Phillips Fragrance today and embark on a journey to create a bespoke scent that speaks volumes about you.
Happy Summer!
Scentfully,
Sue Phillips