The History of Perfumes / Attars

Perfume was first used by the Egyptians as part of their religious rituals, after them the Indian are known to use the fragrances.  The principal methods of use at this time were the burning of incense and the body application of balms and ointments. Perfumed oils were applied to  skin for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes. During the Old and Middle Kingdoms, perfumes were reserved exclusively for religious rituals such as cleansing ceremonies. Then during the New Kingdom (1580-1085 BC) they were used during festivals and Egyptian women also used perfumed creams and oils as toiletries and cosmetics. The use of perfume then spread to Greece, Rome, and the Islamic world. And it was the Islamic world that kept the use of perfumes since the spread of Christianity led to a decline in the use of perfume. With the fall of the Roman Empire, perfume's influence dwindled in western world. It was not until the twelfth century and the development of international trade that this decline was reversed.

Perfumes enjoyed huge success during the seventeenth century. Perfumed gloves became popular in France and in 1656, the guild of glove and perfume-makers was established. The use of perfume in France grew steadily. The court of an western emperor  was even named "the perfumed court" due to the scents which were applied daily; not only to the skin but also to clothing, fans and furniture. The eighteenth century saw a revolutionary advance in perfumery with the invention of eau de Cologne. This refreshing blend of rosemary, neroli, bergamot and lemon was used in a multitude of different ways: diluted in bath water, mixed with sweet drinks to enjoy refreshing aromas, eaten on a sugar lump, as a mouthwash ... and so on. The variety of eighteenth-century perfume containers was as wide as that of the fragrances and their uses.  Sponges soaked in scented vinaigres de toilette were kept in gilded metal vinaigrettes. Liquid perfumes came in beautiful  style pear-shaped bottles. Glass became increasingly popular, particularly in France. 

·   As with industry and the arts, perfume was to undergo profound change in the nineteenth century. Changing tastes and the development of modern chemistry laid the foundations of perfumery as we know it today. Introduction of sciences of chemistry  gave way to chemistry and new fragrances were created. Revolutions around the world  had in no way diminished the taste for perfume. Under the post-revolutionary governments, people once again dared to express a penchant for luxury goods, including perfume. A profusion of vanity boxes containing perfumes appeared in the 19th century.

·   Due to its jasmine, rose and orange-growing trades, the town of Grasse in Provence established itself as the largest production center for raw materials. Paris became the commercial counterpart to Grasse and the world center of perfume.  Perfume making became the family tradition and the art of perfume making passed on from generation to generation.

·  Soon bottling became more important. Business houses were established specifically to manufacture perfume bottles.  Several perfumes are recognized by their specific bottles.

·   1921 Aldehydes (synthetic fragrances) were first used to make perfumes.

·   The perfume industry still undergoes tremendous changes to stay in line with new market trends.