Perfume is not a commodity; its creation is an act of love. It must reflect the soul of the woman who will wear it.
The word “perfume” is derived from the Latin word “parfumare,” meaning “through the smoke.”
The ancient Egyptians used fumigations to honor their gods. They sought aromatic woods, herbs, roots, etc., to create fragrances. They burned the famous incense called Kyphi, a highly fragrant mixture composed of myrrh, lentisk, juniper berries, fenugreek seeds, pistachio, and edible spikenard, all ground and mixed with wine and a cooked preparation based on resin and honey.
Archaeologists have discovered frescoes depicting scenes of daily life involving the use of fragrant substances. They have also discovered alabaster perfume vessels dating to approximately 4000 BC.
The Egyptians produced ointments and essential oils for their religious practices and personal use. They applied them to their skin for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes. Ointments were stored in small pots or alabaster vessels. Small ceramic or stone flasks also existed.
One of the supreme pleasures of Egyptian women was to place small cones of fat and aromatic resins on their heads, which, as they melted, perfumed their hair and faces.
The Greeks continued Egyptian practices with new fragrances brought back from their travels. They anointed their bodies with oils and ointments during bathing.
The Greeks perfumed the bodies of their dead and buried them with personal items, including a perfume flask. A aryballos* was used to spread the ointment on the skin. Greek athletes would anoint their bodies with it before each competition.
The Romans, in turn, gave great importance to perfume. They made improvements to the ingredients and developed its use in religious and funeral rites as well as in everyday practices. The Greeks believed that perfumes had medicinal properties. They consumed them in excess, even sprinkling them on the walls and floors of their homes. A major innovation was the use of glass containers.
We owe the invention of the alembic to the Arabs, which naturally allowed for the refinement of plant distillation. They discovered new fragrant substances, such as musk, and developed the use of perfume.
In the West, the use of perfumes was slowed by wars and barbarian invasions.
Those who have never experienced the magic of a jasmine or rose field in the dawn—do they truly know what a fragrance is?
Jean-Paul Guerlain