Arabian perfumes: history of the origin of fragrances in Arabia

Although the origin of perfume can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, it was the Arabs who perfected and developed new techniques for fragrance production. So much so that they managed to achieve a monopoly on the trade of aromas and spices.

At Divain, we explore the history of perfume, and today we're stopping in the ancient civilization of Arabia to teach you all about Arabic perfume and its influence on the rest of the world.

History of Perfume in Arabia

Ancient southern Arabia was very different from the desert it is today. Lush and full of aromatic plants, it was an area known as the land of perfumes. In fact, in Islam's holy book, the Quran, paradise is described as a fragrant place filled with gardens and trees, great rivers, and a strong scent of musk. As early as the 10th century, Avicenna, a renowned Arab philosopher and physician, introduced rosewater to the Muslim world, which was used to perfume oneself or to scent the rooms of the house. It was the key element in the creation of fragrances, so much so that it was considered a symbol of purity and the wisdom of Allah.

Alchemy in Perfumes and the Arabs

It was the Arabs who applied alchemy to the perfume industry. This new science aimed to obtain the “quintessence” of plants by extracting their essential oils through the technique of distillation. The Arabs took advantage of the decline of the perfume industry in the West in the development of alchemy. They were the ones who perfected the alembic for distilling alcohol, which they used to obtain the base of perfume. This led to rapid expansion, trade, and popularity in the Middle Ages and a revolution in the way perfumes were made. The arrival of the Arabs in Spain The Crusades (1096-1291) were a key period for the introduction of perfumes to the West, as it was the soldiers returning to Europe from their military campaigns who brought perfumes and essences unknown in their countries. With the arrival of the Arabs in Spain, perfume took a new route: it reached France, a country that industrialized it. Furthermore, Granada and Seville became very important perfume centers, comparable to Baghdad and Damascus.

Such was the importance they placed on aromas that Al-Hakam I, the third Umayyad emir of Córdoba, ordered his servant to bring him musk and civet to perfume his beard. In case he was beheaded by the rebels, his head in the afterlife would stand out for its aroma. Similarly, his successor, Al-Hakam II, commissioned the construction of the pulpit of the Mosque of Cordoba using aromatic woods such as ebony and sandalwood. Even after the expulsion of the Arabs from the peninsula, perfumers were the only privileged few who survived and were able to remain in Spain. Had they left, they would have taken with them the treasure of their secrets: the unparalleled formulas for crafting their fragrances.

The Best Arab Perfumes

The Arabs were specialists in combining aromatic oils and essences—floral, woody, and spicy—that create simple yet rich aromas. of

divain-338

Ourdivain-338 is an Arabian perfumefor women and mendivain-709

Like the previous fragrance,divain-709 is inspired by a thoroughbred horse known as Safanad, which means "The Pure One."Its delicate top notes of orange and pear blend perfectly with a floral heart and a sweet, woody base of vanilla, amber, and sandalwood. The beauty and elegance of this breed captured in a single bottle. Divain-314 Its aroma will transport you to the legends surrounding the ancient Silk Road from China to Arabia.

divain-609

And finally, ourmost daring and Romantic.divain-609 is a whole world of sensations that will transport you to a garden of paradise. Sweet and floral touches that evoke the purest, most intense, and real love. You'll fall in love!