👀 What's that smell?

#380 | A scent-illating history of Western perfumery

Floral, clean laundry, sandalwood, or au naturale, whatever your go-to, scent is one of the key ways we navigate the world.

I am a proud collector of incense, essential oil, parfum, and ittar - I need to like what I smell in my space. And clearly, so do a lot of people (or that's what we've been brainwashed into thinking) - the perfume market is a billion-dollar industry.

I find it hella intriguing, and luckily, so does Alena Fedra, a designer who made a really rad single-scroll website on the topic as a passion project.

Presenting: The Perfumerion

According to her research, the first ever recorded perfumer was a woman named Tapputi in ancient Mesopotamia. 

Post-this tidbit, she delves into the Western world of perfumes, where the French took the lead. Because they didn't have sewage figured out, and everything smelled gross (colour me surprised). The rest, I'll let you discover for yourself.

Trust me when I say, though, that the experience of the website is as fascinating as the information itself. 

So the next time you are on your way to stop and smell the roses, add this website to your path.

Analina