Journey through 5000 years of olfactory traditions
Oriental perfumery is one of the oldest traditions in the world. Dive into its fascinating history, from Mesopotamian temples to modern souks.
The first traces of perfumery date back to Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Priests burned incense, myrrh and benzoin during sacred ceremonies. Cleopatra already used rose essences to seduce Mark Antony. Egyptian embalmers mastered extracting perfumed oils for mummification. Perfume was considered a bridge between earthly and divine.
From the 2nd century BC to the 15th century, the Silk Roads transported spices and precious essences from Orient to Occident. Oud, musk, ambergris and saffron were worth their weight in gold. Caravaneers risked their lives to transport these olfactory treasures. Baghdad, Damascus and Constantinople became world perfume capitals. Arab caliphs perfected alembic distillation, a revolutionary technique still used today.
Al-Kindi writes the first perfumery treatise, 'The Book of Perfumes', listing over 100 formulas. Avicenna perfects rose water distillation. Persian gardens become open-air laboratories. The concept of 'layering' was born in Ottoman harems where each woman created her unique signature. Specialized souks appear, some exclusively devoted to essences.
In the 19th century, oriental master perfumers began traveling to Europe, bringing their millennial secrets. François Coty drew inspiration from Arab techniques to create his first modern perfumes. Guerlain visited the Middle East and brought back ambergris. Jacques Guerlain created 'Shalimar' in 1925, inspired by Mughal gardens. Ernest Beaux, creator of Chanel N°5, studied oriental perfumery in Russia.
Today, oriental perfumery is experiencing a global renaissance. Niche houses rediscover traditional raw materials: wild oud, Damascus rose, Omani incense. Young oriental perfumers blend tradition and modernity: oud + electronic, amber + organic citrus. Dubai, Doha and Riyadh rival Grasse and Paris. AI helps recreate lost historical fragrances. Oriental perfume has become a universal luxury symbol.
