To give a brief history of perfume is probably to give a brief history of human civilisation during which references to aromatic oils perfumes and fragrances abound. One can only speculate on their uses during the pre-history of humanity, but there is little doubt that they played important parts in religious and political rituals. The Sumerian Queen, Schubab, was found to have cosmetics and perfume bottles in her grave indicating the importance of perfumes to that very ancient culture.
The use of perfumes was first recorded in hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt when the use of aromatic oils, perfumes and fragrances in the highest religious acts are described. Later, one can get a sense of their importance in the cultural exchanges of the times. Queen of Saba is recorded giving King Solomon incenses, perfumes and fragrances in such abundance that she had scores of camels loaded with them. Even the commoners of the time put great store in fragrances. It is recorded that soldiers habitually carried small phials of perfume and fragrances to war with them!
