Perfume History Essay Research Paper The human

Perfume History Essay, Research Paper

The human use of scents, aromas and fragrances has its origins lost in ancient

times. Why, when and how people first started to prepare them may never be

known, but archeological findings, early written texts and oral tradition show

that the history of aromas goes deep back in time. Early civilizations offered

scent flowers, herbs and resins in worship of their Gods. When burned, some

plants released stronger aromas and scented smoke fires became part of religious

rituals, a mystical mean of communication between heaven and earth, a tradition

followed by many religions until present day. When looking back into history,

many agree that the Egyptians, during Queen Sheba’s rule, were the first to

incorporate perfume into their culture. From the religious ceremonies involving

the burning of incense to the embalming of the dead, perfume was an integral

part of Egyptian life. Even scents like myrrh were considered more valuable than

gold. In the Bible, one of the Three Wise Men brought this as a gift to the

newborn Christ. But perfume did not only linger in spiritual ceremonies: the

Egyptians were also the first to anoint their bodies with the scents of cinnamon

and honey. Depicted on the walls of the temple of Edfu, one can also see the

depiction of the art of floral extraction as perfume is distilled from the

flowers of the white Madonna lily. This "essential accessory" was

reserved mostly for the powerful and the wealthy. Both men and women alike wore

the precious scents. With the death of the mystical Cleopatra, so also died the

Egyptian grandeur and appreciation of beauty. For thousands of years perfumes

had been used widely as an integral part of their culture even though almost all

of the herbs and flowers were from abroad, from Palestine, Persia, India, and

Arabia. In Persia, perfume was also a sign of rank. In the palaces one could see

kings with crowns of myrrh and of labyzuz and smell the aromas of sweetly

smelling scents drifting in the air of their apartments. In the backyards of

homes belonging to the wealthy, one could find exquisite gardens holding

jasmine, lilacs, violets, and the famous red rose. This rose whose petals

covered the floor when Cleopatra first met Mark Antony and that would become the

symbol of the House of Lancaster during the War of the Roses, was known all over

the world for its perfume which increased in intensity as the petals dried. The

Persians began to master the art of preservation by placing the rose buds in

sealed jars to be later opened for a special occasion. Persians also used

perfumes after bathing. It was not until after Alexander the Great, with his

desire for conquest, defeated Darius III of Persia and moved to Egypt that he

adopted the use of perfumes. It is said that his floors were sprinkled with

scented waters and that his clothes were imprinted the perfumes of fragrant

resins and myrrh. But the perfume found its magic in the folds of ancient Greek

religion. The Greeks believed the Gods were perfume’s inventors and it was said

that the visit of a God or Goddess was marked with the sweet smell as a token of

their presence. They held a special place in ceremonies. It is interesting that

the first "gold medal" in the Olympic Games was a piece of art in the

shape of a golden violet. Perfume was an integral part of Greek society, even

though some of the greatest philosophers like Socrates found them

"effeminate". However Greeks also made their mark on the world of

perfume. They played an important role in the science of perfume by categorizing

them by the part of the plant from which they were made and documenting their

compositions. The Romans first celebrated scent around 750 B.C. in religious

ceremonies to celebrate the Goddess of Flora. Each year the ceremonies would be

held to celebrate the first flowers of the season. Later, the ceremony was held

each year on April 28, four days before May Calend (this ceremony was adopted by

the British and is now known as May Day). The Romans were also known for their

gardens, but the flowers were mainly used for garlands to be worn in their

maiden’s hair. When the Roman’s began their world conquest they began to adopt

the use of perfume into their own culture. Greek influence was especially

prominent in the use of perfume in religious ceremonies. As the Roman culture

began to adopt these scents, one could see its effect everywhere. In fact, it

was Constantine the Great who brought the use of scents into the Christian

church. He had oils and incense burned in the church of St. John-in-Latrine,

which was home to the early Popes for thousands of years. Even today, one can

see the continuing of this ceremony as the Pope gives his annual blessing of the

Golden Rose. It is clear how perfume has played a significant role in religion.

<

Внимание, отключите Adblock

Вы посетили наш сайт со включенным блокировщиком рекламы!
Ссылка для скачивания станет доступной сразу после отключения Adblock!

Скачать