The historic, mysterious and romantic realms of fragrance have enchanted and captured the imagination of men and women since the beginning of recorded time. The Old Testament refers again and again to perfume, which in those early times usually took the form of incense. Early religious ceremonies were marked by the burning of aromatic gums and woods as sacrificial offerings to the gods. The Wise Men of the East brought fragrant offerings of frankincense and myrrh to the Christ Child.
Egyptian history reveals the use of fragrant ointments and liquid oils in and after bath.
Fragrance also played a vital role in Egyptian religious ceremonies. The precious fragrances were preserved in intricately designed ivory and wooden boxes, as well as onyx and glass containers. Cleopatra, one of the most famous of fragrance worshippers, probably inspired the Greeks and Romans to become sophisticated fragrance devotees. Between courses at banquets, they refreshed themselves with water perfumed with flowers. The Romans furthered the art of perfumery by compounding as many as twenty-seven ingredients in solid and liquid ointments and powders.