The old city of Pompeii in Italy lay hidden for centuries beneath the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D.; centuries later, archaeological excavations unearthed materials which had been preserved by the volcanic lava and ash flows. Amongst this evidence was proof of ancient perfumery making in Pompeii; Pompeian ladies had used perfumes in much the same way as today.
Perfumes of Campania
The Roman Empire traded various goods with Far Eastern traders, including perfumes, spices and silk, bringing many imported and exotic fragrances into Italy; however, the Italian region of Campania, in which Pompeii was situated, was also held with high regard for creative and qualitative perfumes. The fertile slopes of Vesuvius provided ideal growing conditions for the plants used in ancient Pompeian perfumes.
Pompeii Perfume Bottles
Competition was also fierce for perfume bottles; Egyptian alabastra bottles were popular for storing perfumes. Other materials used to make perfume bottles included gold, onyx and terracotta; eventually, glass became the most favorable material to be used for perfume bottles. Pompeian ladies used bone or bronze spatulas and spoons for cosmetics and beauty creams.
Perfumers of Pompeii
The main centers for perfumery making in Campania were Naples, Capua and Paestum; however, there is also evidence that Pompeii was involved in perfumery making to serve a local trade. Archaeologists have discovered many buildings in ancient Pompeii which indicate they were used as perfumers' shops, through carved inscriptions, paintings or equipment found.
Base Ingredients of Pompeian Perfumes
Pompeian perfumers did not use alcohol as a base for perfumes; instead, olive oil was processed (to remove the fat and refine the oil) to use as a perfume base. Archaeological evidence has been found in Pompeian gardens of the production of the oil and the flowers grown to make perfumes, similar to that of later still rooms; today, archaeologists have named one discovery of such evidence as the House of the Perfumer.
Pompeian Beauty Creams
A beauty cream which was used by Pompeian ladies is that of Lomentum; it was probably used as a face lotion to hide wrinkles. Lomentum had a broad-bean flour base. A number of beauty masks were made from various ingredients including lupines, wine, broad beans, turnips, lentils, honey, barley, wheat and melon roots; they were used in the treatment of facial spots and to whiten and soften the skin.
Pompeii Perfumes and Ingredients
Expensive and complex Campania perfumes made in Naples and Capua included those of Telinum, Regium, Metopium and Cyprinum; however, locally made Pompeian perfumes were:
- Iasminum- made from jasmine
- Rhodinum – ingredients of rose, incense, myrrh and fennel
- Susinum – made from Pompeian lilies
- Mirtum-laurum – ingredients of myrrh, myrtle, lily and laurel
- Melinon – ingredients of almonds, marjoram and grapevine leaves.
Perfumes were medicinally beneficial in addition to being a pleasing fragrance; many medicinal plants of Pompeii were used in the making of perfumes. However, not all perfumes were pleasant; a perfume made from reeds was only used by the most destitute of women, as it had an unpleasant smell. Ancient perfumes of Pompeii were natural and did not contain the synthetic ingredients found in many of today's modern fragrances.
References:
- Giordano, Carlo, Casale, Angelandrea, Profumi, Ungenti e Acconciature in Pompeii Antica (Perfumes, Ungents and Hairstyles in Pompeii) Roma, Italia: Bardi Editore
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