Antiquities > Ancient Glass

Ancient perfume analyzed

(1/2) > >>

Enodia:
A perfume bottle made of quartz has been found intact and still sealed(!), allowing scientists to analyze its ingredients...

https://arkeonews.net/researchers-identified-for-the-first-time-the-composition-of-a-roman-perfume-more-than-2000-years-old/

~ Peter

Serendipity:
''According to the results of chemical analyses carried out by the University of Cordoba, Rome smelled of patchouli, an essential oil obtained from a plant of Indian origin, Pogostemon cablin, widely used in modern perfumery, and whose use in Roman times was not known.''

Patchouli has a dark, musky-earthy woodsy aroma, reminiscent of wet soil, that is usually associated with flowers and spice. It's best known for being the defining hippy scent-of-choice of the American counterculture movement in the 60's and 70's. Patchouli is a unisex fragrance that leans towards the masculine, but for women with intense personalities who enjoy loud and deeper woody notes. It's also a natural insect repellant.

Lech Stępniewski:

--- Quote from: Serendipity on May 27, 2023, 03:22:38 am ---Rome smelled of patchouli

--- End quote ---

But how do scholars know that exactly this perfume was widely used? Maybe it was used only by a few. Perhaps not all Americans in the 60's and 70's smelled like a hippie.

Serendipity:

--- Quote from: Lech Stępniewski on May 27, 2023, 06:05:52 am ---
--- Quote from: Serendipity on May 27, 2023, 03:22:38 am ---Rome smelled of patchouli

--- End quote ---

But how do scholars know that exactly this perfume was widely used? Maybe it was used only by a few. Perhaps not all Americans in the 60's and 70's smelled like a hippie.

--- End quote ---

That's a very good critique of the muddled conclusion the scholar draws from his research. We can't extrapolate from an isolated archeological find that the exotic Indian fragrance patchouli was the sole Roman scent-of-choice just as we can't presume all Americans preferred patchouli in the 60's and 70's. I've just read an interesting article on the topic entitled "Perfume in Ancient Rome" by Stefania Sanna which is full of historical anecdotes: https://www.officinadelleessenze.com/en/perfume-in-ancient-rome/.

Woman pouring perfume into a flask in Villa Farnesina, Rome (fresco)

BiancasDad:
It makes sense to me that they would find patchouli oil in the jar.

I started making organic soap for my family about 10 years ago and it's well-known in the soap-making world that you need to have a "base" essential oil as part of your scent mix. Patchouli is considered a base oil and acts as an "anchor" for the other scents in the mix.

For example, I make a batch of Patchouli/Lemongrass soap. Without the Patchouli essential oil in the mix, the Lemongrass scent would disappear quickly.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page