Reconstitution of ancient perfumes

The study of ancient perfumes calls on several scientific disciplines. Archaeology, of course, which, through excavations and the study of ancient texts, enables us to draw up numerous hypotheses on the raw materials and processes used, as well as on the use of perfumes. It is also necessary to involve botanists and archaeobotanists in order to identify with certainty the plants used in the manufacture of perfumes. Botanical descriptions of plant raw materials in texts and engravings are often imprecise or even confusing. What's more, some of these plants are hard to find these days, and may even be on the verge of extinction. It is therefore necessary to bring them back into cultivation. The study of manufacturing processes, the chemical composition of perfumes and their olfactory characteristics is carried out by chemists and perfumers.

These scientists have a...