From Arabia to Europe: The History of Perfume

The history of perfume is deeply connected to Arabic culture, and Saudi Arabia is considered one of the places where perfumery had its roots. Although it cannot be said that only Saudi Arabia invented perfume, its contribution to the development of this art is immense. In ancient Arabia, natural fragrant substances such as myrrh, incense, sandalwood, and resins were used to create various fragrance blends. It was in this region that advanced techniques of distillation and fragrance extraction developed, with one of the most significant achievements being the invention of distillation, attributed to Arab scholars like Ibn Sina (Avicenna), which allowed for the creation of more lasting and intense scents.Perfumes in this culture had both religious and cosmetic significance, as well as being an element of courtly culture. In the Middle Ages, thanks to the development of trade, Arab merchants passed on their perfumery secrets to Europe, particularly to the southern part of the continent, to Spain and Italy. It was then that new distillation techniques were combined with natural essential oils, enabling the creation of more complex fragrances. By the 18th century, perfumes became popular at European courts, and French perfumers became the leading producers of fragrances.Over time, perfumes became an inseparable part of Western fashion and culture, but their roots still lie deeply in Arab traditions, which continue to be one of the main sources of inspiration for contemporary perfumery.