Scentscapes, Smelling History & More
One of these hair oils was 'Macassar Oil', a compounded oil popularised by celebrated London barber, Alexander Rowland. In 1793, it became one of the first nationally advertised products, boasting extravagant claims...
That place is Grasse, the perfume capital of the world. Within the edges of this unassuming, mediaeval town are innumerable perfume shops. Some grand, such as Fragonard and Molinard, whose...
Excerpt from The Toilet of Flora by Pierre-Joseph Buc'hoz, 1772 'To make Rose-Water To make an excellent Rose-water, let the Flowers be gathered two or three hours after sun-rising in very fine...
Frankincense is used extensively in perfumes and incense, and is the odoriferous body of which is most frequently mentioned as holy incense. The ancient Egyptians used it in their religious...
Excerpt I from The Art of Perfumery, and the Methods of Obtaining the Odours of Plants by G.W. Septimus Piesse, 1857
Bandoline was a kind of hair fixer very popular in Western Europe during the 19th century. Contemporaneously they were referred to as "fixatures" along with other products like wax pomatum....
Pastils (or Pastilles) are a form of granulated or powdered incense material that is mixed with a sticky binder like as dried fruit, honey, or a soft resin, that is then formed...
Excerpt from 'The Toilet' in Hand-Book for the Kitchen and Housekeeper's Guide by Flora Neely, 1879 "For Hardened Skin and Wrinkles. Any good purgative (compound cathartic pills are generally good). Rub...
Anyone who has ever inhaled the fragrance of rose can attest to its intensely narcotic aura. It induces a sense of receptivity & surrender, almost like being ravished. After breathing...
Tomorrow, my Jewish friends begin celebrating Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, and the Miracle of the cruse of oil. This story and the traditions it spawned illustrates the the central role...
The Bundjalung nation has a legend of the beautiful Princess Eelamani who had to travel through the bushland of coastal New South Wales. The journey was perilous, so she asked...
Oil Perfumes have been used for thousands of years, but the 20th century perfume landscape has been dominated by alcohol-based fragrances. With the rising popularity of face and hair oils...
Fragrance is endowed with meaning and can reveal inner truths about people, places and objects. The concept of aroma's "intrinsic 'essences'" has had a profound impact and importance upon religious practice...
Peru balsam has a stunning sweet and smokey scent, reminiscent of vanilla with a calming and comforting quality. It has a unique nature to be gentle while simultaneously softly enveloping with a pronounced...
