We received the high patronage of Unesco for the research, the exhibition and the development project Les Routes du Parfum™.
The International Perfume Foundation has now set sail for an ambitious voyage: LES ROUTES DU PARFUM ™, (The Perfume Roads) comprised of three exhibitions running in parallel in three continents and a series of documentaries and web films to awaken people to the cultural treasure of natural perfumes.
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Welcome toLES ROUTES DU PARFUM™Follow the discovery of the most sensual story, the story of perfume, our heritage. The history of perfume is also the history of mankind. Each culture has its own heritage, each region of the world has its own way to use perfumes. Old document reading proves us that people made use of perfumes and managed to mix them since the extreme antiquity. In sacred texts, it is told very often of beneficial properties of balms, ointments and of fragrant oils. Since the beginning of the perfumery history, people created a multitude of objects destined to contain the most secret compositions. They preciously preserves the rarest essence mingling formulas.
All nations are more or less interested in perfumes and have used it for people wellbeing. At the end the XIX-th century, perfume became a fashion accessory and is today an important industry, the perfumer has been replaced by a chemist, the sunny flower fields by cold laboratories and the beautiful flowers by synthetic molecules. Fortunately, a few people remember the history of perfume and its real function. This look toward the past is important today, because it corresponds to a rescue movement of the planet, of the heritage and to a protective movement of our cultures. With the renewal of the authentic perfumery, natural perfumers are allowing us to continue the history of perfume, at the right place where man lost it just because his only idea was his own benefit. For any reproduction, please use the following formulation: "Research and texts: Copyright Creezy Courtoy" |
ANCIENT Egypt
Queen Hatshepsut, wife of the Pharaoh Tuthmosis would promote the trade of perfumes and spices between the Far East and her kingdom while striving to make it beneficial to everyone... More
AnCIENT Greece
The Minoans knew hygiene and their bathrooms had showers, clay bath and hot water. Their bodies were rubbed with perfumed oils... More
ANCIENT ROME
Under the reign of Emperor Nero, Dioscoride (pharmacist and doctor) advocates several remedies to prevent and cure diseases.
Each odour has its particular benefits: rosemary is used to strengthen the mind ... More |
Ancient Middle East
Cuneiform writing carved onto clay tablets reveals formulas and perfumes used by these Ancient populations since the middle of the third millennium. Lebanese cedar, cypress and myrtle are the three most used perfumes... More
INDIA, A BIG LAND OF PERFUME
The ‘attar’ (Hindi word for perfume) is a necessary element, present in the everyday life in India.
The Art of the perfumer is recognised at the same level as science and medicine... More KHMER KINGDOM AFTER INDIANISM
Merchants from India conveyed not only art and religions but also the love of flowers, odours and perfumes... More
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CHINA, A Perfume is a MEDICINE
"A perfume is always a medicine’’ Chinese proverb
Houses are perfumed with pine, sandalwood, cedarwood or thuya preventing diseases... More JAPAN, RESPECT AND ABSOLUTE VENERATION
At the Imperial court of Heian, fragrances are most demanded. And even if traditionally in Japan, perfume (kaori) is not applied directly to the body, it accompanies every day move... More
VENICE, Master of the Trails
The East transmits to the West its knowledges, its spices, its fragrances
and the Crusaders bring back the Art of Perfumery to Europe... More |
Spain and EL CORDOBA CALIPHATE
Apart from Venice, Spain is one of the main supply channel for perfumery products in the 15th century. The 16th century is the century of perfumed skins and the aristocratic class differentiates by wearing gloves... More
PORTUGAL AND COLONIAL EMPIRES
Names that still make us dream today : Borneo, Calcutta, Goa, Java, Macau, Macassar, Madagascar, Malabar, Malacca, Sumatra, Zanzibar… The fate of the maritime power of Venice and that of the Ottomans results in Lisbon taking over Venice and becomes the most important market of the continent for spices and perfumes... More
NaTIVE aMERICANS
Doctors are called "Perfumeros". They used aromatic plants and flowers and believed that the ‘pneuma’ breathing had healing powers.
For Native Americans, olfaction is synonymous with transition, change from a state to another i.e. a state of healing... More |
FRANCE
Perfumes have the favour at all Royal Courts, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV and Napoléon under the influence of Anne d'Autriche, la Marquise de Pompadour or Josephine.
Versailles is important but also Grasse... More |
UNITED KINGDOM, TRIBUTE TO QUEEN VICTORIA
The Victorian era established very strict usage rules for perfumes. Only a few drops on a handkerchief was allowed but not on a person.
Queen Victoria launched the fashion of patchouli scented shawls... More |
GERMANY
Napoleon bathes in and wears Cologne Water constantly. A bottle is created especially at his request, the “roller” bottle, flat bottle in the back, to slip into his boot... More
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RUSSIA, STARO-NIKOLSKAYA
Perfume is sold in pharmacies, they own their own glassmaking factory, their own laboratories for skincare, cosmetics and perfume, their flower fields and medicinal herb plantations... More
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