When it comes to perfume, most people will associate perfume with the place of France, which may also be and now many well-known big brand perfumes are produced in France. Perfume first originated in Egypt, India, Rome, Greece, Persia, and other ancient civilizations.
The English word "Perfume" comes from the Latin word "Parfumare", which means "to penetrate the smoke". Some examples have also been found in ancient Egyptian.
Ancient Egypt was the first to transform perfume from a sacred use to an everyday one.
It was not until 1500 BC that perfumes became increasingly popular, usually referring to a spice that formed a fragrance and oil for use in baths and after bathing. They were usually stored in elaborate containers. Even in Egypt during that period, it was illegal not to wear perfume in public places, and the importance of incense is evident.
In other parts of the Middle and Far East during the same period, as well as in China, the use of perfume was also heavily popularised and people had developed the idea of using incense and seeking fragrant scents.
Ancient Greek women wore perfume during festivals, and the Romans used it even more, not only on their bodies but also on their mounts and in the mortar of their walls. It was also the Greeks and Romans who made perfume bottles and used them extensively.
The formation of modern perfume
The Persians invented the method of extracting fragrance from flowers through the knowledge of distillation and, through the use of alcohol, made modern perfume. Slowly evolving, the Arabs discovered that by dissolving the fragrance in alcohol, the scent could be slowly released and some of the concentrated essences were better preserved by the alcohol.
This also laid an important foundation for the perfume business in the centuries to come.
Louis XIV was notoriously fond of fragrance and the whole palace had to be scented. As a result, perfume became popular throughout France, and Paris became synonymous with it.
Today, perfume is no longer the preserve of the few. As modern aesthetics continue to evolve, perfume no longer follows the rules. It is no longer just an olfactory experience, but also a way of expressing oneself and one's personality.
