History of Fragrances

Written by: Kabrea Thomas

Have you ever wondered where fragrances originated? What it’s use was originally for? So did we! We thought we’d write an article instilling our readers about some of the wonders on the history of fragrances.

Fragrances have been in use for thousands of years. The introduction of perfume was by the Egyptians as part of their religious rituals. This was done by the burning of incense and the application of balms and ointments. At the time perfume oils were applied to the 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 (1080-1585 BC) they were used during festivals and Egyptian women also used perfumed creams and oils as toiletries and as preludes to love-making. The use of perfume then spread to Greece, Rome, France and the Islamic world. The use of perfume in France grew steadily. The court of Louis XV 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. Although this was done centuries ago not much has changed. There are still oils that we use for health purpose, for example tea tree oil is really good for acne, nail infections, lice, scabies and even ring worms. Women still wear scented cream, oils and sprays for special occasions. We can go on and on about the various oils that help us, but it goes to show that natural remedies always serve a purpose.

If you have any other amazing facts about the wonders of fragrances, please feel free to share them down below.