Nose What's Good: How Modern Perfumery Got Its Start in the 18th and 19th Centuries

Perfume in the 18th and 19th centuries was a luxurious commodity that only the elite could afford. The birth of modern perfumery can be traced back to this era, where fragrances were created by combining natural ingredients like flowers, herbs, and spices. This is where perfume as we know it began.

Perfume shops were a common sight in the 18th and 19th centuries. These shops were often small and quaint, with shelves lined with intricately designed perfume bottles. The shopkeepers were knowledgeable about different fragrances and their ingredients, and they would help customers find the perfect scent to suit their preferences. This is the era where the novel Perfume by Patrick Süskind takes place.

One of the most popular fragrances of the time was perfume with jasmine. Jasmine was a popular ingredient in perfumes due to its sweet and delicate scent. It was often combined with other floral scents like rose and lily to create a complex and sophisticated fragrance.

Creating a perfume in the 18th and 19th centuries was a meticulous process. Perfumers would extract essential oils from natural ingredients, which were then combined with alcohol to create a fragrance. These fragrances were often stored in ornate bottles and sold in exclusive perfume shops.

Perfume was not just used for personal hygiene but also as a way to enhance one's beauty and charm. Women, in particular, would apply perfume to their hair, neck, and wrists to attract suitors. It was believed that a woman's perfume could reveal her personality and social standing.

In conclusion, perfume in the 18th and 19th centuries was an essential part of daily life for the elite. The birth of modern perfumery can be traced back to this era, where natural ingredients were combined to create complex and sophisticated fragrances. Perfume shops were a common sight, and perfumers were knowledgeable about different fragrances and their ingredients. Perfumes with jasmine were particularly popular, and women would use it to enhance their beauty and charm.