Perfume From Antiquity To The Present Day

By Perla M James


The use of fine fragrances and Perfumes has origins which date back to the time to the Egyptians. This was thousands of years ago, and it was later used by Arabs. It then went to China and eventually to Rome. The word Perfume originated from Latin in which per fumus meant through smoke. Burning of Myrrh or Frankincense and similar fine fragrance was a common practice during most religious ceremonies and all festivals. The application of Perfumed oil for cosmetic as well as medicinal purposes began to grow. This is one reason why Greeks, Romans and countrymen developed a liking for baths using scented water.

The first modern perfume was introduced in 1370 by request of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary. The new scent was known all over Europe as Hungary Water. Perfume in England rose in popularity during the Tudor period. Queen Elizabeth I couldn't stand the foul smell of public places and had them doused in perfume.

In France perfume found much favour during the 17th century. The guild of glove and perfume makers was constituted in 1656 following the rise in popularity of perfumed gloves. Louis XV was renowned for applying scents daily not only to the skin but clothing, furniture and soft furnishings.

Perfume as was developed further at the beginning of the 18th century. The fresh new fragrance was called Eau de Cologne a delicate mixture of citrous oils in alcohol. Invented in 1709 by Italian Giovanni Maria Farina the new scent was named after his adopted home town. However perfume was not for the masses due to the huge expense it was a luxury item limited to wealthy.

The bottles of the fragrances and fine fragrances were as important as the fragrances themselves. At the start, the bottles were of clay and of stone. Towards the turnoff the century the containers began to be made of metal or of glass. The scent deteriorated when it came in contact with air and also light. So, it was important to keep them secure form these. Glass with had been manufactured by man since 4000 B. C. Only became the popular material for bottles after the 18 Century. It is said that Louis XIV made glass fragrance containers shaped like pears.

Perfumes were further improved by chemists in the beginning of the 1900s. Alchemists had made them in a way that was entirely different till now. America started to create its fashion statements using Perfumes in the 1920s. Chemists were employed by almost fashion houses to create exclusive scents for them. Now there are so many different fine fragrances and scents which are marketed by celebrities and fashion houses with equal fervor. This billion dollar industry has captured in the imagination of people the world over.




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