The history of perfumery dates back thousands of years, with evidence of its use in ancient civilizations such as:
-
Egypt: Egyptians utilized essential oils and aromatic plants for personal adornment and religious rituals, believing that scents had protective and spiritual significance.
-
Mesopotamia: The earliest recorded perfumer, Tapputi, was a woman who distilled flowers and oils around the 2nd millennium BC.
-
Greece and Rome: The Greeks and Romans further refined the art of perfumery, using floral essences and exotic ingredients to create luxurious fragrances that signified social status.
-
Middle Ages: Knowledge of perfumery was preserved and advanced by Islamic scholars, who improved distillation techniques, allowing for more complex scent compositions.
-
Modern Era: The late 19th century marked a significant turning point with the introduction of synthetic aroma compounds, which expanded the possibilities for fragrance creation beyond what was achievable with natural ingredients alone.