Perfume History Essays - Toiletry, Cosmetics, Olfaction, Perfumes

Perfume History The human use of scents, aromas and fragrances has its origins lost in ancient times. Why, when and how people first started to prepare them may never be known, but archeological findings, early written texts and oral tradition show that the history of aromas goes deep back in time. Early civilizations offered scent flowers, herbs and resins in worship of their Gods. When burned, some plants released stronger aromas and scented smoke fires became part of religious rituals, a mystical mean of communication between heaven and earth, a tradition followed by many religions until present day. When looking back into history, many agree that the Egyptians, during Queen Sheba's rule, were the first to incorporate perfume into their culture. From the religious ceremonies involving the burning of incense to the embalming of the dead, perfume was an integral part of Egyptian life. Even scents like myrrh were considered more valuable than gold. In the Bible, one of the Three Wise Men brought this as a gift to the newborn Christ. But perfume did not only linger in spiritual ceremonies: the Egyptians were also the first to anoint their bodies with the scents of cinnamon and honey. Depicted on the walls of the temple of Edfu, one can also see the depiction of the art of floral extraction as perfume is distilled from the flowers of the white Madonna lily. This "essential accessory" was reserved mostly for the powerful and the wealthy. Both men and women alike wore the precious scents. With the death of the mystical Cleopatra, so also died the Egyptian grandeur and appreciation of beauty. For thousands of years perfumes had been used widely as an integral part of their culture even though almost all of the herbs and flowers were from abroad, from Palestine, Persia, India, and Arabia. In Persia, perfume was also a sign of rank. In the palaces one could see kings with crowns of myrrh and of labyzuz and smell the aromas of sweetly smelling scents drifting in the air of their apartments. In the backyards of homes belonging to the wealthy, one could find exquisite gardens holding jasmine, lilacs, violets, and the famous red rose. This rose whose petals covered the floor when Cleopatra first met Mark Antony and that would become the symbol of the House of Lancaster during the War of the Roses, was known all over the world for its perfume which increased in intensity as the petals dried. The Persians began to master the art of preservation by placing the rose buds in sealed jars to be later opened for a special occasion. Persians also used perfumes after bathing. It was not until after Alexander the Great, with his desire for conquest, defeated Darius III of Persia and moved to Egypt that he adopted the use of perfumes. It is said that his floors were sprinkled with scented waters and that his clothes were imprinted the perfumes of fragrant resins and myrrh. But the perfume found its magic in the folds of ancient Greek religion. The Greeks believed the Gods were perfume's inventors and it was said that the visit of a God or Goddess was marked with the sweet smell as a token of their presence. They held a special place in ceremonies. It is interesting that the first "gold medal" in the Olympic Games was a piece of art in the shape of a golden violet. Perfume was an integral part of Greek society, even though some of the greatest philosophers like Socrates found them "effeminate". However Greeks also made their mark on the world of perfume. They played an important role in the science of perfume by categorizing them by the part of the plant from which they were made and documenting their compositions. The Romans first celebrated scent around 750 B.C. in religious ceremonies to celebrate the Goddess of Flora. Each year the ceremonies would be held to celebrate the first flowers of the season. Later, the ceremony was held each year on April 28, four days before May Calend (this ceremony was adopted by the British and is now known as May Day). The Romans were also known for their gardens, but the flowers were mainly used for garlands to be worn in their maiden's hair. When the Roman's began their world conquest they began to adopt the use of perfume into their own culture. Greek influence was especially prominent in the use of perfume in religious ceremonies. As the Roman culture began to adopt these scents, one could see