The history of perfume

1. When we smell a particular fragrance, such as clean laundry or a fresh peach, we unconsciously connect that smell to a part of our memory. Smell can evoke feelings and bring back memories that we forgot we had. The history of perfume dates back to the time of the ancient Egyptians.

2. Egyptians were responsible for the origin of perfume. They used scents in everything, from religious ceremonies to burial preparations and even daily wear. The rich people of Egyptian society would adorn themselves with aromas like lily to show their status. The Persians took over the use of perfume as a sign of political status. Then, the Greeks and Romans discovered it, and it began to be seen as a form of art. Perfume slowly spread throughout the world, and for a while, scents were reserved mainly for use in religious ceremonies. However, in 1190, perfume began to be produced commercially in Paris, and from there, it blossomed into a massive industry.

3. The Egyptians used to create ointments and balms with essential oils mixed in to provide scent. Today’s perfume, however, uses a more complex method of preparation. The desired scents are combined with either ethanol or ethanol and water. The concentration of the scent depends on what kind of perfume is being made. True perfume may have a composition of up to 40% of scent material. Eau de Perfume will only have up to 20% of scent material in its mixture, resulting in a lighter, more subtle aroma.

4. Next time you buy perfume either for yourself or for someone you like, remember that you are buying something which will leave a mark in a part of your brain and will forever make you remember the moments you wear it. Scents never die.