Continuing with the chronology of fragrance history and as we have already told you in our previous articles, after Egypt, Greece and Rome, the next and fundamental step within the evolution of fragrance is the Ancient East.
To better understand this stage, we must first go back to the 5th century, more specifically to the Byzantine Empire, closely linked to Rome. Likewise, the surprising union of many nomadic peoples gave rise to Persia (modern Iran) and the Middle East became one of the areas most connected to the history of fragrance.
FRAGRANCES IN THE ANCIENT EAST
Persia and the Middle East
Persia was located in the middle of a trade route through which essences and cosmetics were transported, constituting a very important part of the economy of the Ancient Persian Empire.
Persian tea roses, myrrh, cedarwood, incense… From that ancient route they have reached us and persist in many current aromas and fragrances.
| Historical Ingredient | Origin / Use in Persia |
|---|---|
| Tea Roses | Intensively cultivated for oil extraction. |
| Myrrh and Incense | Fundamental resinous bases in trade routes. |
| Cedarwood | Used for its durability and aromatic depth. |
In Europe the use of fragrances declined after the fall of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity, which preached austerity. So fragrances became a symbol of wealth.
The Byzantine Empire
At the same time, in the East, with the rise of Byzantine Empire and the spread of Islam, fragrances continued their expansion and Byzantium made this industry much larger than that of the Roman Empire, since in addition to easy access to raw materials, new aromas emerged from gray amber, rose water, or musk.
Likewise, distillation with alcohol was perfected, the basis of modern perfumery. The Arabs spread this technique with fragrances throughout Europe via Spain. According to historical records on the technological evolution of distillation, the refinement of the alembic by Arab alchemists was the catalyst for modern fragrance.
In China, there was also a strong devotion to aromas, and they cultivated large harvests of flowers dedicated to pressing petals to create fragrances.
With all these sources, who can doubt the importance of the Ancient East in the history of fragrances?
Types of aromas that triumphed in the Ancient East
Fragrances of the Ancient East are characterized by presenting spicy, sweet, floral aromas, etc. These are some of the most popular:
- Spicy: these aromas stand out for their intensity. They come from ingredients like cinnamon, clove, or nutmeg. They are intoxicating.
- Floral oriental: belong to the aromatic floral family and are among the oldest scents. They are made with flowers like gardenia, carnation, or tuberose. divain-078 is a perfect example of this type of aroma.
- Woody notes: is made from aromatic woods like sandalwood, cedar, or vetiver. If you like these scents, we recommend our fragrance divain-272
- Sweet oriental or gourmand: are irresistible scents achieved by blending essential oils with cocoa, honey, vanilla… Our divain-196 is a perfect example of this type of fragrance.
- Spicy: Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg.
- Floral: Gardenia, Carnation, Tuberose.
- Woody: Sandalwood, Cedar, Vetiver.
- Gourmand: Cocoa, Honey, Vanilla.
divain fragrances to travel to the Ancient East
divain-556
There can be no more oriental feminine fragrance than divain-556. With countless notes of aromatic plants, its scent will transport you to a Tunisian souk, discovering nuances and colors at every step. Based on our experience in selecting olfactory families, this fragrance faithfully represents the opulence of the spice routes.
divain-295
And for men, divain-295, which captures the mystery of the East in an unforgettable fragrance, with notes of spices and wood. Reveals all your masculine magnetism by adding an elegant touch of sensuality.
divain-163
Finally, we cannot forget our divain-163. A sensual and elegant fragrance inspired by a love story that will transport you to the far East to discover paradisiacal places full of secrets.
If you want to discover more fragrances with this oriental touch, use our filters and let yourself be enchanted by these fragrances, which are not made to go unnoticed.
What is the origin of fragrance in the Ancient East?
Fragrance in the East has its fundamental roots in Persia and the Byzantine Empire around the 5th century. Persia became a key trade hub for essences like myrrh and incense, while Byzantium and the Arabs perfected distillation techniques and the use of animal ingredients like musk.
What role did the Arabs play in the history of fragrance?
The Arabs were essential in perfecting alcohol distillation and the use of the alembic. This technique allowed the creation of more refined and long-lasting fragrances, knowledge they spread throughout Europe via Spain.
What ingredients were common in ancient oriental perfumery?
Resins such as myrrh and incense were used, flowers like tea roses and spikenard, as well as woods like cedar and sandalwood. They also successfully introduced powerful ingredients like ambergris and musk.
Why did fragrance become a symbol of wealth in Europe?
After the fall of Rome, the expansion of Christianity promoted austerity, which caused personal use of fragrances to decline. Due to their scarcity and the cost of importation from eastern routes, their use was reserved for the wealthiest classes.
What are the characteristics of oriental family fragrances?
Oriental fragrances are distinguished by being intense and warm. They include spicy notes (cinnamon, clove), powerful florals, deep woody notes, and sweet touches known as gourmand (vanilla, honey).
What innovations did the Byzantine Empire bring to perfumery?
Byzantium surpassed the Roman industry thanks to its strategic location and access to exotic raw materials. They popularized rose water and developed a much more advanced and varied cosmetic industry than their predecessors.
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