History Of Fragrances

What is it that fragrance brings into our lives?
Fragrance is all around us. The scent of flowers, salty ocean air, tree resins. Fragrance products have striven to capture the beautiful scents of the natural world and reproduce them for use as body perfumes, incense and other beauty products.

For thousands of years humanity has practiced the art of making and using fragrance products to enhance spiritual states, feelings of well-being and beauty.

The burning of incense that accompanied the religious rites of ancient China, Palestine and Egypt eventually led to the use of perfumes. In Greece, where flower ingredients were first developed, the use of perfumes became widespread.

During the Middle Ages the knowledge of perfumery was brought to Europe from the East. Most perfumes today are blends of natural and synthetic scents and of fixatives that equalize vaporization of the blends and add pungency.

The ancient practices of using incense for prayer, to keep away evil sprits and for meditation still go on today and include the more modern practice of Aromatherapy.

Cultural Impact of Fragrance -
Fragrance is an integral part of our lives and culture, and has been for thousands of years.
In fact, every culture around the world has used fragrance to enhance the experience of being alive. Cultural uses around the world include the spiritual traditions which burn incense and other fragrance products as well as the using fragrance to bring about meditative states, relaxation or to increase energy and stamina.

Cultures value the different affect combinations of fragrance can have according to their worldviews. While some people may put great value on the fragrances which create feelings of sensuality or happiness, others might seek out combinations which create relaxation or exhilaration.
In the modern day fragrance and its effects on mood, energy and spiritual states has become a science, as well as a multi-billion dollar per year industry.

Interesting Tidbits to “CallOut”:
The word perfume is derived from the Latin ‘per fumum’, meaning “through smoke.”
Today, America is the largest fragrance market in the world.