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History of Perfume
The popular term “perfume” today refers to scented mixtures and is derived from the Latin phrase ‘per fumus’ , meaning “through smoke.” The art of creating these fragrances is known as perfumery. It is believed that Ancient Greeks were among the first to produce perfume, while the Romans, Persians, and Arabs further refined the craft. Although East Asia also had its own perfume traditions, they predominantly focused on incense-based scents. The basic ingredients and techniques for making perfumes are described by Pliny the Elder in a text called ‘Naturalis Historia‘.
The First Perfume Ever Made
According to historical records, the recipes of perfumes were recorded from 1221. It is believed that it was the Hungarians who introduced the first modern perfume. It was made in 1370 at the command of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary using scented oils blended in an alcohol solution. The scented product known as “Hungary Water” gained popularity throughout Europe. In the 16th century, Italy saw a blossoming of the art of perfumery. Italian innovations were later introduced to France by René le Florentin, the personal perfumer of Catherine de’ Medici. To safeguard his formulas, a secret passageway connected his laboratory directly to her private chambers.
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Who Invented Perfume In India
Traces of perfume and fragrances also existed in the Indus civilization, which existed from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. As per history records, the earliest distillation of ‘Ittar’ was mentioned in the Hindu Ayurvedic text ‘Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita.’ Its evidence has also been found in various Indian literatures, such as Brihat-Samhita, written by Varāhamihira, an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer who lived in the city of Ujjain. It is said that various kind of formulas are written by Varahamihira, which is also considered as one of the oldest text of India
5 Perfume Facts You Need to Know
- The term “perfume” is derived from the Latin phrase “per fumum,” meaning “through smoke.” Interestingly, the world’s first chemist and perfumer was a woman named Tapputi.
- Perfumes don’t have an expiry date, but they will change over time. But it is always recommended that you should use it within the first three years.
3. The key difference between Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum lies in the concentration of pure perfume oil. Eau de Toilette contains around 10% perfume oil, while Eau de Parfum has about 15%. True Parfum, on the other hand, features a concentration exceeding 20%.
4. Interestingly, the scent can smell differently on two different people. It happens because every perfume mixes with your skin’s chemistry, and makes the smell unique.
5. The fragrance of any perfume changes throughout the day, the reason is because each perfume has different top, heart, and base notes. The top notes usually fade quickly and are very delicate. Heart notes stay a bit longer, but it is only base notes that will stay the longest.
The Takeaway
Avoid rubbing your wrists together after applying perfume, as the friction can distort the scent by increasing interaction with your skin’s natural oils. To make the most of your fragrance, apply it to pulse points, such as the inner wrists, the base of your neck, behind your earlobes, and inner elbows, to maximize its impact.
