History of Perfume

The word perfume used today derives from the Latin "per fumum", meaning through smoke.

The history of perfume is intriguing. It was first used by the early Egyptians, mainly for religious rituals. They burned incense and applied balms, ointments and oils to their skin. Perfumed oils were used for both cosmetic and medicinal purposes.

Perfumes were only used for cleansing and religious ceremonies during ancient times and the middle ages. From 1580 to 1085 BC, Egyptian women began to use perfumed oils and creams before making love. During this period, perfumes were also used during festivals.
Perfume use then spread to Greece, Islamic countries and Rome. With the birth of Christianity, perfume use rapidly decreased and only remained alive within the Islamic community. When the Roman Empire fell, the influence of perfume once again decreased dramatically. The decline was reversed during the development of international trade during the 12th century.
Perfume made a huge comeback in the 17th century. In 1656, France introduced perfumed gloves. At this time the guild of perfume makers was established. Perfume use in France escalated. The rein of Louis XV was dubbed, “the perfumed court.” During this era people not only applied perfume to their bodies, but also to furniture, fans and clothing.
Eau de Cologne was invented during the 18th century and with it there was a revolutionary advance in the perfume industry. Perfumes were used in baths, poultices, enemas, mouthwash and added to sugar and wine for human consumption.
With the turn of the 19th century, perfume underwent and astounding development. The advance of modern chemistry and a switch in taste lead to the invention of perfume as it is known today. After the French Revolution and its post-revolutionary government, people began to desire luxury items once again. It was during this period that perfume creators released an abundance of vanity boxes that contained perfume.
Grasse, a town in Provence provided jasmine, orange and rose for the perfume market. The town became a large center for the raw materials that gave perfume its scent. Paris became the world center of the perfume trade. The largest and most well-known perfume houses in the world, such as Houbegant and Guerlain were based in Paris. James Henry Creed established the House of Creed, a perfume house, in London, England in 1760.
At the beginning of the 19th century fragrance houses began to appear across Europe. William Sparks Thomas, a corset and crinoline maker, founded the Crown Perfumery in 1872. He catered exclusively to Europe and London elite society and created and launched floral perfumes and labeled them Flower Fairies. These perfumes were highly sought after and Queen Victoria allowed her crown’s image to appear on the fragrance bottles of the Crown Perfumery. This crown line of fragrances was produced until 2002 when they were discontinued by Clive Christian.

Courturier Gabrielle Chanel launched her own perfume brand in 1921. It was names Chanel No. 5 because it was the 5th fragrance presented to her by perfume creator Ernest Beau. Chanel No. 5 was a hit and continues to be sold on today’s perfume market.

Floral and leather fragrances came into being during the 1930s. During the 1950s French perfume sales peaked, which spurred Jacques Fath, Pierre Balmain, Christian Dior and others to create their own line of fragrances.

There are more than 30,000 designer fragrances for sale today and many bear the names of celebrities. Perfume experts predict this trend will end as suddenly as it began. Perfumes today are used by everyone. Fragrance is no longer only for the elite and wealthy. Changes in perfume material, style and technique has increased greatly since the invention of modern chemistry. Today, perfumers use creativity to produce scents that appeal to people from all walks of life.

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