Perfume the Fascinating life
There are many perfumes and fragrances available throughout the world. You can find them readily available at almost every store worldwide. However, the origin of perfume goes back to a time when camels were the only available transportation. The Egyptians were paramount in the production and teaching of this practice throughout the ancient world. The early Egyptians began this process by burning wood with incense and then rubbing it with fragrant oil. The Egyptians would then bottle and sell them throughout the land.
After the discovery of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb, traces of perfume were found even after thousands of years. The ancients of Egypt used fumigation to honor their gods. They mostly used an incense called Kyphi, which is a mixture composed of myrrh, lentisk, juniper berries, and fenugreek seeds. These ingredients were then mixed with wine, honey, and a cooked resin. Archaeologist have have discovered scenes depicting scenes of daily Egyptian life with the use of fragrant substances. Also, discovered was an alabaster perfume vase dating back over 4000 BC.
However, the recent discovery of an ancient perfume making site on the island of Cyprus led historians to believe the Greeks were the first to develop the liquid version of perfume. During the height of the factory's production, the perfume trade in Egypt was at it's height as well. Archeologist believe it is highly likely that these two civilizations had a fruitful trading relationship during this time. People of these times held perfumed oils and ointments in great esteem. These fragrances were used for everything from bathing routines to burial ceremonies. In later times the Romans and Persians would refine the process and take it to the next level. The Romans in their turn, allowed a great place for perfume. They brought improvements to key ingredients and developed the use in religious rituals.
The world's first recorded chemist is widely beloved to be a woman known as Tapputi. Mentioned in a cuneiform tablet dated back to the second millennium BC, Tapputi distilled flowers, oils, and calamus,with aromatics. Later, in a book written in the ninth century by an Arabian chemist named Al-Kindi, over 107 preparatory methods and recipes of making perfume were described. The process of extracting oil from flowers by way of distillation was introduced by a Persian chemist named Ibn Sina. This procedure is still commonly used today which, is a testament to the genius of it's author. This is why historians credit the Arabs as being the link between he past and present.
Perfumery was able to flourish and grow in the east because of a peaceful trade agreement. As early as 1221, perfumery was known in Western Europe. However, it was during renaissance Italy that perfumery really prospered. During the reign of Catherine de Medici in France perfumes flourished. She would bring her perfumer with her everywhere she would go.mIn fact, his laboratory was connected to her apartments by way of a secret passageway. This was done to ensure no formulas were stolen or compromised. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries perfume flourished and excelled to an unprecedented height and stature. In the west, the use and production of perfumes was slowed by wars and barbarian invasions.
