Continuing with the chronology of the history of perfume, and as we have already told you in our previous articles, after Egypt, GreeceandRome,the next and fundamental step in the evolution of perfume is the Ancient East.
To better understand this stage, we must first go back to the 5th century, more specifically to the Byzantine Empire, closely linked to Rome. Likewise, the surprising union of numerous nomadic peoples gave rise to Persia (modern-day Iran), and the Middle East became one of the regions most closely linked to the history of perfume. PERFUMES IN THE ANCIENT EAST Persia and the Middle East Persia was located at the center of a trade route along which essences and cosmetics were transported, constituting a very important part of the economy of the Ancient Persian Empire. Persian tea roses, myrrh, cedarwood, frankincense… From that ancient route, they have reached our time and persist in a multitude of current aromas and perfumes.
| Historical Ingredient | Origin / Use in Persia |
|---|---|
| Tea Roses | Intensively cultivated for oil extraction. |
| Myrrh and Frankincense | Essential resinous bases on trade routes. |
| Cedarwood | Used for its durability and aromatic depth. |
In EuropeThe use of perfumes declined after the fall of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity, which preached austerity. Thus, perfumes became a symbol of wealth. The Byzantine Empire Meanwhile, in the East, with the rise of the Byzantine Empire and the spread of Islam, perfumes continued their expansion, and Byzantium made this industry much larger than that of the Roman Empire, since, in addition to easy access to raw materials, new aromas emerged from the Ambergris, rosewater, or musk.
Distillation with alcohol, the basis of modern perfumery, was also perfected.
The Arabs spread this technique with perfumes throughout Europe via Spain. According to historical records on the technological evolution of distillation, the refinement of the alembic by Arab alchemists was the catalyst for modern perfume. In China, there was also a significant devotion to aromas, and they cultivated large flower harvests dedicated to pressing petals to create fragrances. With all these sources, who can doubt the importance of the Ancient East in the history of perfumes? src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0037/1556/3635/files/historia-perfume-oriente-aromas.jpg?v=1627904676">Types of scents that triumphed in the Ancient East
Perfumes from the Ancient East are characterized by spicy, sweet, floral, and other scents. These are some of the most popular:
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Spicy:These scents stand out for their potency. They come from ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. They are intoxicating.
- Floral Orientals:belong to the family of aromatic flowers and are one of the oldest scents. They are achieved with flowers such as gardenia, carnation, or tuberose.divain-078 is a perfect example of this type of scent.
- Woody Notes:are made from aromatic woods such as sandalwood, cedar, or vetiver. If you like these scents, we recommend our fragrance
divain-272 - Sweet Orientals or Gourmand: are irresistible aromas achieved by blending essential oils with cocoa, honey, vanilla… Our divain-196 is a perfect example of this type of fragrance.
- Spicy: Cinnamon, Clove, Nut Moscada.
- Florals: Gardenia, Carnation, Tuberose.
- Woody: Sandalwood, Cedar, Vetiver.
- Gourmand: Cocoa, Honey, Vanilla.
Divain perfumes to travel to the Ancient East
divain-556
There cannot be a more oriental feminine perfume than divain-556. With countless notes of aromatic plants, its aroma will transport you to a Tunisian souk, Discovering nuances and colors at every step. Based on our expertise in selecting fragrance families, this perfume faithfully represents the opulence of the spice routes.
And for men, divain-295, which captures the mystery of the Orient in an unforgettable fragrance, with notes of spices and wood. Reveal all your masculine magnetism by adding an elegant touch of sensuality. Finally, we can't forget our divain-163. A sensual and elegant fragrance inspired by a love story that will transport you to the Far East to discover paradisiacal places full of secrets. If you want to discover more fragrances with this oriental touch, use our filters and let yourself fall in love with these perfumes, which are not made to go unnoticed.divain-295
divain-163
What is the origin of perfume in the Ancient East?
Perfume in the East has its fundamental roots in Persia and the Byzantine Empire around the 5th century. Persia became a key trading hub for essences such as myrrh and frankincense, while Byzantium and the Arabs perfected distillation techniques and the use of animal ingredients such as musk.
What role did the Arabs play in the history of perfume?
The Arabs were essential in perfecting distillation with alcohol and the use of the alembic. This technique allowed for the creation of more refined and longer-lasting fragrances, knowledge that they spread throughout Europe via Spain.
What ingredients were common in ancient Oriental perfumery?
Resins such as myrrh and frankincense were used, as well as flowers such as tea roses and tuberose, and woods such as cedar and sandalwood. They also successfully introduced potent ingredients such as ambergris and musk.
Why did perfume become a symbol of wealth in Europe?
After the fall of Rome, the spread of Christianity promoted austerity, which led to a decline in the personal use of fragrances. Due to their scarcity and the cost of importing them from eastern trade routes, their use became reserved for the wealthiest classes.
What are the characteristics of oriental perfumes?
Oriental perfumes are distinguished by being intense and warm.
They include spicy notes (cinnamon, clove), powerful florals, deep woody notes, and sweet touches known as gourmand (vanilla, honey).What innovations did the Byzantine Empire bring to perfumery?
Byzantium surpassed Rome's industry thanks to its strategic location and access to exotic raw materials.
They popularized rosewater and developed a much more advanced and varied cosmetics industry than their predecessors.
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