“Smell is a word , perfume is literature”

–Jean-Claude-Ellena

Fragrances are much more …..

Have you ever thought of somebody because you remember a particular fragrance he/she wears. I believe we all have cherished memories of being with somebody special having a particular fragrance we felt amazing with. This is because Perfume is a story in odor, sometimes poetry in memory. Fragrance makes us dream,,, isn’t it. This is one thing which holds the capacity of reminding you of someone. The significance of a perfume in one’s life is much more than its aroma. The mood changing aromas of various perfumes/fragrances are proven to reduce stress/anxiety and thus alleviate your mood by keeping your mind fresh and calm . Thus they are mood enhancers. It promotes mental balance. Aromatherapy is a proven therapy for ages now which helps one release certain hormones which relieves you of tension and triggers a psychological benefit. It not only makes you more attractive than before it you start taking care of your body hygiene. Its a fantastic hobby ,takes us back to our core. Our sense of smell triggers sense of memories and thus if you choose a right fragrance for yourself, you stay unforgettable. Perfumes are no more used as an optional part of special occasions/celebrations now it has become an integral part of our daily lives. Have we ever realized in our daily routine, how many fragrances we come across in the form of personal use perfumes to cosmetics, air fresheners, aroma candles, colognes and so much more. But do we ever wonder about the history of perfumes. The history of perfumes has its long roots in Italy. The modern version of perfume you love to wear today has its origin in Italy, developed by Italians. Being the epicenter for trade and commerce, Italians had their access to all the required flowers, oils, herbs and spices to develop various scents. Italy is still home to the largest perfume producers.

Along with Italian history one more perfume history which must interest us is the Arabic history in the perfumery.

Al-Kindi in full Abu Yusuf Ya’qub ibn Ishaq Al-Kindi, “the philosopher of the Arabs”, is known for his efforts to experiment with various plants and herbs for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and perfumes and thus presented a wide range of secret varieties of fragrances. Arabic perfumery has always been about strong culture of enchanting scents/perfumes. In Islamic culture use of perfumes has been linked with religion .Various spices, exotic woods, herbs, essential oils have been used and an immense variety of enchanting scents are produced. Exoticism has been the main feature of Arabic perfumes. Oud is best example which identifies the perfumes of the Middle East. Oud is a seductive and intense aroma also known as agarwood.