Ancient
writers, such as the Athenaeus of Naucratis (Ἀθήναιος ὁ Nαυκρατίτης or
Nαυκράτιος), Hippocrates of Kos (Ἱπποκράτης ὁ Κῷος), Xenophon (Ξενοφῶν),
Herodotus (Ἡρόδοτος), Aristotle (Ἀριστοτέλης), and others, cite details about
ancient perfumes, which took their name either from the aromatic plant from
which they were produced or from the name of their manufacturer.
- One
of the most important sources of information is the text "Deipnosophistae"
("Δειπνοσοφισταί") by the Athenaeus of Naucratis (170 - 223 AD), where extensive
references are made to the smells and aromas of the city of Athens.
- Aristotle
(384 - 322 BC) in " Nicomachean Ethics" ("Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια") considers
that the scents of Charites (Graces / Χάριτες), who followed Aphrodite (Αφροδίτη),
contributed to the social contacts of people.
- In
"On Sense Perception" ("Περί Αἰσθήσεων"), "Enquiry
into Plants" ("Περὶ φυτῶν ἱστορίαι" / "Historia
Plantarum") and "On the Causes of Plants" ("Περὶ φυτῶν αἰτιῶν"
or "Περὶ αἰτιῶν φυτικῶν" / "De Causis Plantarum") by Theophrastus
of Eresos (Θεόφραστος Ἐρέσιος / 371 - 287 BC) we find complete recipes and the
way of making famous aromatic oils of the time.
- The
references of Pedanius Dioscorides (Πεδάνιος Διοσκουρίδης / c. 40 - 90 AD) to
his surviving works are similar.
These
texts and many more, contain excellent information about various substances
used in the perfumes of Antiquity, so that a specialist can reproduce the
composition of their scents.
Rhodesian (Rhodium / Ρόδιο / from Rhodes) was an expensive and luxurious fragrant oil made from rose extract with the addition of various essential oils (such as: marjoram, iris roots, prickly pear, etc.).
- The appertaining ointment that was made in Rhodes and was used for the beautification of the bodies, was famous.
The Rhodesian / Grecian Soli Dharma will be at your disposal soon.