Thousands of years, starting in ancient civilizations. In Egypt, around 3000 BCE, perfumes were made from flowers, resins, and spices. Cleopatra is well-known for using perfumes, both for beauty and in religious ceremonies. The Greeks and Romans also valued perfumes, with wealthy people using scented oils and incense to enhance their personal scent.
During the Islamic Golden Age (500-1500 CE), a Persian scientist named Avicenna developed the distillation process, which made it easier to extract essential oils from plants. This was a major step in creating the perfumes we know today. In Renaissance Europe, perfumes became a symbol of luxury and wealth. In France, Queen Catherine de Medici is credited with popularizing perfumes at the royal court, making them a fashionable item.
The 18th and 19th centuries brought further developments with chemistry. Synthetic ingredients, like coumarin, were introduced, allowing perfumers to create new, complex scents. Famous perfumes like Chanel No. 5 (1921) and Dior’s Miss Dior (1947) became symbols of sophistication and elegance.
