The history of perfume dates back to the ancient Egyptians who made extracts from flower petals. Natural oils were burned in temples, private homes, and palaces somewhat like incense. Babylonians used perfume in hair dressing, and the Persians refined the art. The Greeks used Egyptian and Babylonian techniques to annoint their bodies and scent their wine, and the Romans annointed themselves three times a day with perfume. The art of making perfume was lost during the Middle Ages, but was revived in France in the 1500's. Thus France became the perfume capital of the world. Louis XIV, King of France, had a whole perfume pavilion in which servants, guests, furniture, and walls were sprayed with floral scents.
The word 'perfume' generally refers to odors that are appealing to the senses. The first perfume consisted of aromatic incense that gave off an odor when burned. In fact perfume is derived from the Latin "per furmum" which means "through smoke." The first liquid perfumes were made in 3500 BC, and from this beginning long ago, today we have hundreds of perfume odors, and their production has become a major industry. Perfumes are used in cosmetics, toiletries, soap, detergents, deodorants, face powder, paint, and cleaning materials.
Perfumes are generally alcohol solutions of 10 to 15 percent aromatic concentrates. These ingredients consist of natural oils from plants or animals or synthetic compounds. Perfumes are usually classified according to the dominant fragrance such as floral, spicy, woody, mossy, oriental, and herbal. The blending of these scents has been compared to musical chords. The top note is the dominant odor and is the most volatile; the middle note such as sage or marjoram is longer lasting, and the low note can be musk, rosemary, or sandalwood. Perfumes are diluted to prepare colognes and toilet water at about 2 to 6 percent concentrate, and aftershave and splash deodorants containing 0.5 to 2 percent concentrate.
References to perfume materials and formulas are frequently found in the Bible. Incense played a prominent role in the sanctuary ceremonies. The altar of incense before the inner curtain was used to offer a continuous pungent atmosphere to the Holy Place. The priests who entered the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement carried a censor of live coals upon which was sprinkled incense so that he was enveloped in a cloud of aromatic smoke. There are references of God's nose being sensitive to sweet savors or odors, and the prayers of the saints are likened to incense. However, we can also be offensive to God. Cherishing selfishness or covetousness can give off a bad odor, and our text reveals that a little foolishness or folly can outweigh much wisdom just as the sweet scent of perfume is spoiled by "flies in the ointment."
