Perfume dates back to ancient civilisations, where it was utilised for religious ceremonies, personal cleanliness, and to cover bad odours.
It is based on a Mesopotamian clay tablet detailing the distillation process from flowers and aromatic plants, dating back to the 2nd millennium BC.
Ancient Egyptians valued perfume as a god-given gift & used it in religious rituals, developing techniques like enfleurage, which are still used today
It was also popular among the upper classes in Europe, masking body odour and symbolising social status and wealth.
In the 19th century, the rise of synthetic fragrances revolutionised the perfume industry by making it more affordable and popular.
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