Thames & Kosmos Perfume Science handleiding

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Thames & Kosmos

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Handleiding

It’s natural to want to be in an environment

that smells pleasant, and move away from

unpleasant smelling ones. In the same

way, we want to smell appealing, and

certainly not offensive, to other people. For

thousands of years, people have altered

the scents of their environments and their

bodies with chemicals derived from smells

found in nature.

As perfume designers will tell you,

perfume is like art for the nose just like a

painting is art for the eyes, fine cuisine for

the palate, and music for the ears. Just like

these other art forms, perfume has a long

history.

THE HISTORY OF

PERFUMES

For as long as history has been recorded,

fragrances have been used for healing,

personal hygiene, allure, and religious

ceremonies.

The first perfumes were made

approximately 5,000 years ago by high

priests in Mesopotamia. Aromatic plants,

spices, or sweet smelling resins (tree saps)

were burned to please the gods and to

drive away illnesses. These ancient people

learned that balsams and resins would

release their aromas most intensely when

heated. From this comes the term perfume

that is derived from the Latin term “per

fumum,” which means “through smoke.”

Perfumes in Egypt

At about the same time, the priests in

Egypt also used the mysterious effects

of fragrances. They can probably be

considered the first true perfumers. They

made perfumed creams and oils that were

sold to rich worshipers. At the time of King

Ramses II (13th century B.C.), men applied

cosmetics and perfume with the same

enthusiasm as did women. Creams and

perfume oils were in such demand that, for

example, during an economic crisis, people

complained more about the rationing

of the costly creams and oils than about

having short supplies of corn and flour.

Ancient Mediterranean

The Greeks and Romans loved to surround

themselves with precious fragrances. They

took baths in perfumed water, cared for

their hair with perfume oils, and massaged

their bodies with fragrant creams. Even

food and beverages were perfumed. No

elaborate celebration would be complete

without a wine spiced with roses, violets,

cinnamon, or even lavender or vermouth.

Arabia and Venice

Between the eighth and tenth centuries,

the Arabs discovered new methods for

the distillation and making of perfumes.

They created new fragrance mixtures by

combining fruits, flowers, and spices with

animal substances like musk, amber, and

civet.

MERIT'S COSMETIC BOX

This box belonged to the wife of a building

contractor in Thebes, and contains several

bottles for fragrant oils (1411-1375 B.C.).

FIVE MILLENNIA OF PERFUMES

AND SWEET SMELLS

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