Perfume - a brief history of Fragrance and Perfumes.
The origin of the word perfume is from the Latin 'per fume', which translates as 'through smoke'. The art of perfumery began in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt and was further developed by the Romans and Arabs.
Archaelogists have recently discovered what is generally believed to be the worlds oldest perfumes in Cyprus, they date back for than 4 thousand years, and were discovered along with distilling machinery, mixing machinery and bottles.
The process of obtaining oils from flowers by distillation was invented by an Iranian chemist called Avicenna, initially using rose petals. Prior to this discovery liquid perfume was generally manufactured by a process of crushing herbs and petals. The distillation process produced a finer, more subtle blend and fragrance, and immediately became popular.
We have information and links on the following modern day perfume houses: 123, Agent Provocateur, Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui, Antonio Puig, Aramis, Armani, Benetton, Britney Spears, Burberry, Cacharel, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Celine, Cerruti, Chanel, Chloe, Chopard, Christian Dior, Clarins, Clinique, David Beckham, Davidoff, Diesel, Dolce And Gabbana, Donna Karan, Dunhill, Elizabeth Arden, Elizabeth Taylor, Escada, Estee Lauder, Fendi, French Connection, Ghost, Giorgio Beverly Hills, Givenchy, Gloria Vanderbilt, Gres, Gucci, Guerlain, Guy Laroche, Hugo Boss, Hummer, Iceberg, Issey Miyake, Ivoire De Balmain, J Lo, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jil Sander, Joop, Kenzo, La Perla, Lacoste, Lagerfeld, Lancome, Lanvin, Laura Biagotti, Loewe, Lolita Lempicka, Maroussia, Massimo Dutti, Miss Sixty, Mont Blanc, Moschino, Nautica, Nikos, Nina Ricci, Oscar De La Renta, Paco Rabanne, Paloma Picasso, Paris Hilton, Paul Smith, Police, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Revlon, Roberto Verino, Rochas, Romeo Gigli, Salvador Dali, Sergio Tacchini, Shiseido, Stella McCartney, Ted Baker, Thierry Mugler, Tommy Hilfiger, Trussardi, Ungaro, Valentino, Van Cleef And Arpels, Versace, Yardley, Yves Saint Laurent
