Natural cosmetic oils in antiquity: legends and history
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The art of making cosmetics from vegetable oils appeared many centuries ago. In fact, it is aromatic oils, along with herbal decoctions, that are considered the first and oldest cosmetic products. They were used in ancient times as perfumes and even medicines - the breadth of their application is truly limitless!
The very word "Perfume" comes from the Latin expression "rer fumum" - "through smoke", since heating was necessarily used to obtain the aroma.
Such demand is not at all surprising - the magical power of plants is known to everyone. Let's add the fragrance and wonderful properties of essential oils as a means of aromatherapy — and voila! — almost universal cosmetics in your hands.
And by the 5th millennium BC, artisans were already extracting aromatic substances from herbs and flowers with all their might - an ancient ceramic still that is at least 5000 years old is kept in one of the Pakistani museums.
The legendary ancient Egyptian aromatic mixture called "Kyfa" consisted of 16 different ingredients, and its exact recipe has remained a mystery. Presumably, it included cinnamon and juniper oils.
Having noticed how quickly essential oils evaporate, it was the Egyptians who learned to mix them with fats in order to preserve valuable drugs for a long time.
Priests used aromatic oils for the preparation of baths, inhalations, rubs, rinses, and healing ointments. The ancient Egyptian nobility used them to preserve the beauty of the body, calm down, increase sexual desire, and even as a means of contraception.
Special smoking was used to increase the aggression of warriors before the battle - such is the great effect of aromatic oils on a person.
The most popular oils were rose, myrtle, lichen, cedar, and various types of juniper.
Ointments and rubs made on the basis of sage, rose, iris, as well as almond and olive oils were sold in the Athenian markets. They were used both for cosmetic and medicinal purposes, and for aromatherapy.
Contemporaries attribute the following words to Hippocrates himself: "The way to health lies through a daily aromatic bath and massage." And this is indeed true, there are many examples in history when the plague mowed down entire cities and bypassed the areas where the inhabitants dealt with aromatic mixtures. After all, essential oils are powerful antiseptics - a bath with such oils can work wonders.
Rose, juniper, cypress, and marjoram oils were most often used for the manufacture of cosmetics in Ancient Rome. However, saffron oil was most loved by the Romans.
The very word "Perfume" comes from the Latin expression "rer fumum" - "through smoke", since heating was necessarily used to obtain the aroma.
Such demand is not at all surprising - the magical power of plants is known to everyone. Let's add the fragrance and wonderful properties of essential oils as a means of aromatherapy — and voila! — almost universal cosmetics in your hands.
When did it happen?
No one knows exactly when exactly people learned to extract oil from plants, but they began to use them for medicinal purposes even in the primitive communal system. This is evidenced by rock drawings, which apparently served as instructions for the use of plants in the preparation of medicinal drugs.And by the 5th millennium BC, artisans were already extracting aromatic substances from herbs and flowers with all their might - an ancient ceramic still that is at least 5000 years old is kept in one of the Pakistani museums.
Ancient Egypt
The Egyptians knew a lot about cosmetics and incense. Due to these precious substances, more than one fierce battle broke out between the armies of greedy pharaohs.The legendary ancient Egyptian aromatic mixture called "Kyfa" consisted of 16 different ingredients, and its exact recipe has remained a mystery. Presumably, it included cinnamon and juniper oils.
Having noticed how quickly essential oils evaporate, it was the Egyptians who learned to mix them with fats in order to preserve valuable drugs for a long time.
Priests used aromatic oils for the preparation of baths, inhalations, rubs, rinses, and healing ointments. The ancient Egyptian nobility used them to preserve the beauty of the body, calm down, increase sexual desire, and even as a means of contraception.
Special smoking was used to increase the aggression of warriors before the battle - such is the great effect of aromatic oils on a person.
The most popular oils were rose, myrtle, lichen, cedar, and various types of juniper.
Ancient Greece
Alexander the Great started Greek perfumery. Winning victories in military campaigns in Asia Minor and Egypt, he learned from local residents the art of using aromatic oils not only as incense to the gods, but also as cosmetics.Ointments and rubs made on the basis of sage, rose, iris, as well as almond and olive oils were sold in the Athenian markets. They were used both for cosmetic and medicinal purposes, and for aromatherapy.
Contemporaries attribute the following words to Hippocrates himself: "The way to health lies through a daily aromatic bath and massage." And this is indeed true, there are many examples in history when the plague mowed down entire cities and bypassed the areas where the inhabitants dealt with aromatic mixtures. After all, essential oils are powerful antiseptics - a bath with such oils can work wonders.
Ancient Rome
The ancient Romans, who had a special passion for cosmetic procedures, literally doused themselves with aromatic oils and took baths from them. They learned to use incense not only in the form of oils, but also used it in solid and powdered form. In order to manage all this variety, every self-respecting Roman had a special slave - cosmetae. His duties included constantly anointing and rubbing the master or mistress with incense.Rose, juniper, cypress, and marjoram oils were most often used for the manufacture of cosmetics in Ancient Rome. However, saffron oil was most loved by the Romans.
