1. Context

Ancient civilizations (figure 1 ) have left us an immense heritage. Numerous archaeological, literary and iconographic remains refer to perfumes or, more broadly, to the world of scents.

The study of ancient perfumes may seem secondary, but it is, in fact, crucial to a proper understanding of ancient societies and the history of perfumery. In fact, we're not dealing here with a luxury reserved for the female elite. Perfumes were used for a wide variety of purposes, both secular and religious, by men and women from all walks of life. The study of ancient perfumes therefore provides a wealth of information on the economy, culture and society in general. Perfumes...