Scents in History

We take a scent-imental journey back to the beginnings of perfume in the world's ancient cities. Mesopotamia The term perfume comes from the Latin phrase “per” (“through”) and “fumus” (“smoke”). Incense was the first type of fragrance, which was discovered in 4,000 BC by the Mesopotamians, who burned resins and woods at their religious rituals. Egypt The aromatic fumes of incense found their way to Egypt in 3,000BC. Queen Hapshetsut launched expeditions to retrieved incense trees, which were later housed in a temple in her honour. Perfumes were also found in the tombs of dead Pharaohs, and were used in religious ceremonies — they were called “the fragrance of the gods” that could reawaken the spirit. It is said that Cleopatra, one of Egypt's most famous rulers, arrived on a ship with aromatic sails and that people could smell her perfume wafting even before her barge was visible. Greece The Greeks are credited for concocting the first liquid perfume by blending fragrant powders with heavy oils. The perfume was later placed inside alabastrums — gorgeous containers made of alabaster and gold. Far East During the Tang Dynasty, circa 7,000 AD, rich Chinese were big on perfume. They lavished their bodies, bathwater, clothes, houses and temples with fragrance, while their paper, cosmetics and ink were scented as well. Even the large Buddha statues exuded the lovely scent of camphor wood.