FROM A BATH ESSENTIAL TO A MILLION BILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESS
Are you the type of person who loves the smell of a brand-new notebook or a fresh eraser, flooding your mind with nostalgia and flashes of school memories?
It’s fun, isn’t it? Interestingly, certain fragrances and odours can evoke memories and transport us to a whole different world! After all, perfumes are a sign of elegance and beauty.
Surprisingly, the so-called ‘Epitome of Fragrance—France’ was not its origin. At around 2000 B.C, Egyptians were the first to use perfumes in their rituals, medicine, and beauty routines. They even had a God of Perfume called “Nefertum”. As the term “perfume” suggests, the first-ever form of fragrance was ‘Aromatic Incense’.
Many European countries were fascinated with the idea of fragrances and tried to create their own unique recipes. During the Renaissance, Italy had a profound influence on French Perfume. The Italian Royals used jewellery coated with poisonous potions as a tool for political assassinations and intimate crimes. They concealed the foul odour with scented leather gloves, which turned into a fashion statement in Italy.
In the 15th Century, Leather Industries in Grasse, the southern town of France, used Floral Scents to mask the tanning odour. Italian born Empress Cathrine de Medici stepped up the fashion game of France by introducing perfumed pieces. Grasse became the hub of all sorts of leather goods, from perfumed gloves to belts, bags, and more. It rose in popularity among the French Nobles and the Royals.
Later in the 17th century, the Parisians were driven by the myth that water carries diseases, and they stopped taking baths. The issue intensified to the point where the entire country emitted unpleasant odours- even the Royals! An author from that era, Patrick Süskind, wrote: “The Peasant Stank, as did the Priest” as a description of the time he lived in. At that time, fragrances masked their unbearable body odour. They sprayed scents all over the Palace, even in fountains. Hence, it earned the name “The Perfumed Court”.
The authentic and rare ingredients like ambergris, castoreum, musk, civet, jasmine, oud, Bulgarian rose make up the French Parfum, the most expensive perfume to exist. France’s perfume industry contributes about 2.8 billion euros per annum to the country’s total economy. Thus, France became “The Epitome of Perfumery” and the home of many luxury fashion brands like Chanel, Celine, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and more.
