Perfumes are as old as history: Egyptian perfume recipes from as long ago as 1600 BC have been found!
The Greeks also loved scents and perfumes, something which is obvious in The Iliad and The Odyssey. Perfume is for mortals and immortals alike. In Homeric epic, scent is a must after a bath (and we know how much epic heroes love to bathe). Aphrodite, who often goes to bathe in the sea caves of Paphos, Cyprus, is also a famous user of scent.
The first known perfume based on alcohol was created by a Hungarian man for Queen Elizabeth the first, who was then in her seventies. Later, an Italian from Milan called Jean Paul Feminis, created an improved formula; his nephew, Jean Antoine Farina continued the work, after moving to Cologne in Germany. He called his scent --yes-- "eau de cologne"!
Perfume often appears in paintings, illustrations and artworks as well. Emmakisstina, an amazing Swedish artist, has created an iconic image of Chanel no 5, as well as lovely illustrations of other perfumes, such as Miss Dior and Chance by Chanel!
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