Fragrance is as old as mankind.
The history of perfume is a reflection of humanity: a protection against disease, a means of exchange, a gallant message, a potion with divine virtues.
Perfume was first used by the Egyptians as part of their religious rituals. They used perfumed balms as part of religious ceremonies and later as part of pre love making preparations.
The Persians perfected the art of preserving scents; while the Greeks categorized perfumes according to the part of the plant they came from and kept records of their compositions. Alexander the Great brought perfume to Greece after invading Egypt, and the Romans took on the Greek’s perfume culture when they invaded Greece. In the mean time, Islamic, Chinese and Indian cultures had been using perfume as part of their religious and social rituals as well.
Perfume enjoyed huge success during the seventeenth century. Perfumed gloves became popular in France and in 1656; the guild of glove and perfume-makers was established. The use of perfume in France grew steadily.
The eighteenth century saw a revolutionary advance in perfumery with the invention of Eau de Cologne “water from Cologne”. A young Italian, Jean-Marie Farina invented it in Cologne, Germany, which was a big success in France and subsequently in Europe. The eau de cologne was originally intended for both internal and external use, having both medicinal and cosmetic applications. Napoleon created a legal distinction between pharmacy and perfumery.
Hygiene had become a symbol of soul purity as the 19th century arrived. Modern chemistry and advanced technology made it possible to create new extraction techniques. The biggest of all technological advances was the ability to create synthetic ingredients to substitute natural perfume ingredients that were hard to find or very expensive, bringing the perfume prices down and making it accessible to the masses. Perfume was no longer a luxury for the wealthy. However, there were still only a few brand names available until the 20th century when mass production of perfumes began.
The recent popularity of celebrity fragrances has also made an impact on the industry although most experts do not expect the trend to last. Today there are over 30,000 designer perfumes on the market and perfumes are no longer for the wealthy. The perfume industry has undergone several changes in technique, material and style. All of which have created the modern fragrance industry, one that still incorporates creativity, mystique and romance along with marketing to appeal to the masses.
A world without perfume would be a world without history!
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May the New Year bring
