Civilizations

Perfumery was born in temples and royal laboratories. The Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Bronze Age Cypriots are among the first recorded to create aromatic oils and structured formulas. Tapputi Belatekallim of Babylon is the first recorded perfumer in history. She distilled flowers and resins while documenting her methods on clay tablets over 3,000 years ago. In 2003, archaeologists in Cyprus uncovered a massive Bronze Age perfume factory dated back to 1850 BCE, proof that this craft was already refined and industrialized.

Prized Materials

Rare materials have long held a special significance in perfumery among distillers, perfumers, and even royalty. These materials increase depth while expanding diffusion and allow other materials to bloom. Agarwood, found in many regions, has the ability to bind the heart and base while adding natural depth and unlocking niche facets in florals. Deer Musk, Ambergris, and certain Resins also create architecture within a formula. A Socotra Island Dragon Blood Resin tincture is pictured.

Raw Materials

Working with materials in their purest form alters the understanding of scent. The depth comes from chopping woods, trimming florals, distilling, tincturing, and aging. Real perfumery starts long before the bottle.

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