History of Perfume Timeline

Cultivation of flowers for their perfume essence began in the 14th century and laid the foundation for the later perfume industry of southern France.

Image source: Grasse

In 1370, at the command of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary, a perfume made from scented oils blended in an alcohol solution was produced. It became known throughout Europe as Hungary Water.

Image source: Hungary water

Hungary Water is described as the first modern perfume because it combined scented oils with an alcohol solution.

The art of perfumery prospered in Renaissance Italy, where techniques and formulations were refined before spreading elsewhere in Europe.

Flower cultivation for fragrance expanded in southern France, especially around Grasse, which later became widely regarded as the world capital of perfume.

Catherine de Medici helped initiate the European perfume industry after leaving Italy in the 16th century to marry the French crown prince.

Image source: Catherine de' Medici

Italian perfumery refinements were taken to France in the 16th century by Catherine de Medici's personal perfumer, René le Florentin.

Catherine de Medici's arrival in France helped establish perfume as an important European industry and connected Italian expertise with the French court.

Perfume use peaked in England during the reign of Henry VIII, who ruled from 1509 to 1547.

Perfume use remained especially prominent in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, from 1558 to 1603.

Image source: Elizabethan era

Perfumers were also known for creating poisons. In 1572, René le Florentin was supposedly involved in preparing poison rubbed into perfumed gloves in the alleged murder of Jeanne d'Albret.

Perfumed gloves became popular in France during the 17th century, linking glove-making with the preparation and sale of fragrance.

Perfume enjoyed huge success during the 17th century, when fragrance became increasingly important in European court and commercial life.

In 1656, France established a guild for glove and perfume-makers, formally recognizing the combined trade in scented gloves and perfumery.

Perfume came into its own when Louis XV came to the French throne in the 18th century, intensifying its association with royal culture.

Image source: Louis XV

By the 18th century, aromatic plants were being grown in the Grasse region of France to supply raw materials for the expanding perfume industry.

Perfume underwent profound change in the 19th century alongside transformations in industry and the arts.

Perfume manufacture in Russia grew after 1861 and became globally significant by the early 20th century.

By the early 20th century, Russia's expanding perfume manufacture had become globally significant.

In May 2018, the ancient perfume Rodo, meaning Rose, was recreated for the Greek National Archaeological Museum's anniversary exhibition, Countless Aspects of Beauty.

The recreation of Rodo allowed visitors to approach antiquity through their olfaction receptors, making ancient perfume history accessible through smell.