The use of personal fragrance has certainly evolved with the times. Perfume ads are everywhere you look, becoming their own unique genre of art on their own. While women's fragrances give off a very modern vibe, the history of perfume is actually quite lengthy and complex. The self-care ritual dates back thousands of years to the earliest documented cultures.

The History of Perfume: Ancient Civilizations

While it's likely the practice of mixing and creating fragrances occurred much further back, the earliest record of perfumery comes from ancient Mesopotamia around 2,000 BC. Historians credit a woman named Tapputi for founding the practice, with records noting her use of:

• oils
• local flowers
• the calamus plant

It's no wonder that the history of perfume dates back so far; without running water, sewage systems, and other modern conveniences, cleanliness was hard to come by. Perfumes were essential for masking everyday odors that were only compounded by heat and humidity. They also played a major part in religious rituals and ceremonies.

The Greeks and Arabs played a pivotal role in transforming perfume into a liquid product with the development of distillation. This process helps purify and condense ingredients, leading to improved stability and stronger fragrances, as well as larger scales of production. These civilizations also experimented with a host of other plants, including:

• bergamot
• almond
• coriander
• rose

The use of local flora and fauna allowed different cultures to create scents that were unique to their region and people.

The History of Perfume: Modern-Day Perfumery

The industrial revolution and the modern evolution of chemistry brought women's fragrances far from the origin of perfume. Complex machinery and the development of factories meant perfume artisans could create their products in enormous batches to sell to the public. Perfume continued to increase in popularity, becoming more and more accessible to the everyday woman. The resulting demand gave developers the opportunity to experiment more in new and creative ways.

No longer relying solely on natural products and extractions, perfume makers could now create and incorporate synthetic scents to compose a symphony of fragrance unlike any other. Now, the possibilities were endless. The first company to utilize this modern technique was in Paris, France, a pillar in the fragrance industry both then and now. Other groundbreaking fragrances that have stood the test of time come from:

• New York, New York
• Cologne, Germany
• Florence, Italy

Today, you can find perfumes of every kind, with natural and synthetic ingredients, to help you create a fragrance profile that's completely unique to you.

The History of Perfume: Embrace the Legacy of This Ancient Art

The fragrances of today are powerful, seductive, and enchanting. The history of perfume is vast and varied, and you can now choose options that nod to the past or embrace the innovation of the future. At LaBelle Perfumes, you'll find everything you need to build the fragrance collection of your dreams, from timeless classics to the newest products available. Shop LaBelle's entire collection of women's fragrances to make your mark through the art of perfumery.

Sources:

• https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history/story-perfume
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume