Do you adore fragrances? Are you interested in deepening your knowledge about them? Well, here we offer you the opportunity to learn about the history of fragrance and who created it. The word “fragrance” comes from the Latin “fume” and means “through smoke.” Below, we explore its origins and how it has reached our days.
Origin of fragrance
Fragrance has existed since forever, since prehistoric times. At first, it was used as an air freshener or ceremonial element, later it was applied on the skin. The oldest fragrances were discovered by archaeologists in Cyprus, where they found the first factory. It was more than four thousand years old.
The first to manufacture it for human use were the Egyptians. Oils, balsamic essences, ointments, resins diluted in wine… A whole series of products used for medicine, cosmetics, and the embalming process of the dead. It was so important to them that they even had a god of fragrance, Nefertum.
Ancient Rome and Christianity
It was with the Romans that fragrances began to be used as part of personal hygiene, especially by women and all social classes. Many recipes survive, both Roman and Greek. However, with the arrival of Christianity, its regular use ceased, except among the upper classes. During the Middle Ages, a time when personal hygiene was not widespread, women smeared themselves with strong and long-lasting aromas like amber.
The arrival of alchemy
It was with alchemy and the Arab civilization that experimentation and the development of fragrance resurged. The discovery of alcohol as a solvent for essences led to the creation of finer and longer-lasting aromas. The Arab people, who landed in Spain, spread the culture of fragrance throughout Europe.
Fragrance in the East
For the Chinese, the sense of smell has been one of the most important, so essences and fragrances have always held great power for them. In fact, one of the mandatory arts presented in the “Kamasutra” is perfuming oneself. By the 6th century, they already had large plantations dedicated to fragrance production. Flowers were cultivated for pressing their petals to extract their essence.
Fragrance today
Currently, there are many types of fragrances and millions of ways to obtain them. With the emergence of synthetic aromas, it is even possible to create new smells that do not exist in nature. New techniques allow us to unravel different essences to create equivalence fragrances. Discover the entire range we offer, choosing the essence that best suits your personality, is an excellent way to honor who created the fragrance.
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