From ancient Egypt to contemporary noses: how perfume was created yesterday and today

Perfume has fascinating origins dating back thousands of years.

As early as around 3000 BC, in ancient Egypt, fragrant resins such as frankincense, olibanum and myrrh were burned during religious ceremonies, purification rites and moments of meditation. Perfumes were considered gifts from the gods and were also used for embalming.

Around the 5th century BC, the Greeks began to perfect the art of perfumery, introducing the daily use of perfumes both on the body and in the home.

The Romans, between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD, took this habit to an even higher level: they used perfumes for the body, clothes, walls of houses and even for parade horses.

During the Middle Ages (9th to 13th centuries), it was the Arabs who revolutionised perfumery with the invention of the alembic and advanced distillation techniques. This made it possible to obtain pure essential oils from plants and flowers, giving rise to the first alcoholic perfumes.

During the Renaissance (14th–16th centuries), the art of perfumery flourished in Italy and France. Venetian and Florentine workshops were renowned for the quality of their essences, while Grasse, in Provence, became what is still considered the world capital of perfume today.

Between the 18th and 19th centuries, perfume began to be produced in a more industrial manner, while maintaining a close link with the artisan tradition. Some of the most famous fashion houses, still active today, were founded during this period.

Today, artistic and independent perfumery represents a new golden age: a perfect union between ancient knowledge, passion and innovation. Contemporary perfumers – known as “noses” – continue to explore new raw materials, new techniques and new emotions to convey.

Today, as in the past, a fragrance remains a powerful vehicle for memory, identity and imagination.