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Browsing by tag: perfume history

The gods were honored with exotic fragrances

Posted by Robin on 15 March 2025 Leave a Comment

Perfumes were not only used to beautify the sculptures but also served a ritual function. In ancient Greece and Rome, the gods were honored with exotic fragrances and scented oils. In the sanctuary of Delos, epigraphic inscriptions detail the costs and composition of the perfumes used for the kosmesis (adornment) of the statues of Artemis and Hera. These included olive oils, beeswax, natron (sodium carbonate), and rose perfumes.

— Read more in A Study Reveals That Greek and Roman Statues Were Not Only Painted and Adorned with Textiles and Jewelry but Also Perfumed at LBV Magazine.

Moldy, musty, and mildewy

Posted by Robin on 21 February 2025 2 Comments

One would expect a mummy to smell moldy, musty, and mildewy. But the first study to systematically sniff the wrapped human remains report much more pleasant scents, describing whiffs as "woody," "spicy," and "sweet," according to a report in Journal of the American Chemical Society.

— Read more in Ancient Egyptian Mummies Smell Spicy and Sweet Instead of Musty or Moldy at Discover.

Feathers, Fur, and Fragrance: The Enduring Appeal of Animal-Shaped Perfume Bottles

Posted by Robin on 31 December 2024 1 Comment

Our own Dr. Jessica, giving a talk at the Corning Museum of Glass earlier this year: "Perfume containers shaped like animals have been made and cherished for several millennia, with important examples surviving from ancient Egypt and the ancient Near East. From bold to beautiful to slightly spooky, small-scale interpretations of the animal kingdom have hinted at the wild side of scent in various ways over time. The modern era, however, witnessed a new proliferation of zoomorphic fragrance vessels. This lecture takes a close look at a selection of twentieth-century commercial perfume bottles shaped like birds and beasts, connecting their stories and symbolism with related developments in fashion, the fine arts, and visual culture."

Note that there is a brief introduction and then some technical difficulty; if you want to skip to the beginning of the lecture, go to about 3:09. The talk is about an hour long.

Perfumes of Ancient Egypt

Posted by Robin on 10 December 2024 2 Comments

The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo, is reviving the history of perfume in ancient Egyptian civilization through a temporary exhibition titled "Perfumes of Ancient Egypt Through the Ages," which will last for about three months. The exhibition aims to shed light on the perfume industry in ancient Egypt, its various uses, different compositions, and the rituals associated with it.

Organized in collaboration with Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3 in France, the dlaboratory [sic] Apis Archimedes, and the hieroglyphic language foundation Herolcix, the exhibition showcases a collection of artifacts related to perfumes.

— Read more in Reconstructed ancient perfumes showcased in new Egyptian Museum exhibition at The Jersusalem Post.

A blend of carefully selected roses

Posted by Robin on 26 September 2024 Leave a Comment

During Nero’s reign in the 1st century B.C., trade routes expanded, making the transportation of scented oils cheaper and faster. As a result, shops selling perfumes multiplied across Rome.

The most sought-after scent of the time was ‘rhodium,’ a blend of carefully selected roses. This perfume became synonymous with Nero’s reign. Another popular scent, ‘foliatum,’ made from Roman roses, was a lighter alternative to rhodium.

— Read more in Historical scents revived: Nero’s signature perfume recreated at Türkiye Today.

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