Question:
...based on findings at a 4000 year old perfume factory in Cyprus. Says they used olive oil mixed with various herbs and spices, but no flowers.

Here's the link:

http://www.livescience.com/history/0...t_perfume.html

Answer:
Here, there is TV programme called Dragon's Den, the concept is that an entrepenuer presents a business idea,with a view to gaining investment and expertise,from successful business people. Recently, there was an aromanster (or something ) (fragrance guru ) who wanted to re-create ancient perfumes. He presented his ideas, including reviving Cleopatra's signature scent!! His idea received a positive response, he gained investment.
I am expecting the UK female population to soon smell of pyramid. He also wanted to "restore" scents that were found on the Titanic.
He was an intersting chap. At first "The Dragons", the business people who he presented to, were a little perplexed "You will not be able to compete with YSL" etc. etc. Totally missing the point eg. recreating something historical and, shock horror, different for a modern market.
I have looked for an update as to how the guru is going, with no joy, alas.

Answer:
I find the idea of ancient fragrances very exciting. But I'm afraid that basenotes men are not interested in anything old and classic. They seem to only want the new and hip. I posted a thread about smelling and wearing Napolean's cologne and didn't get one response. I also posted on the women's frag page about Josephine's perfume. There I at least got 4 responses. I have a huge interest in cultural anthropology and think it's fascinating what was worn through the centuries. Did men wear more floral scents in 17th century France? What did Cleopatra wear? Did the Spartans wear cologne? Alexander the Great? To me, scents would intrigue me more than the newest boring frags being peddled these days! Not that I don't check out the new stuff. I'm going to the Nordstrom Fragrance Faire in two weeks!

Answer:
So back then they wore salad dressing? What would you prefer me to wear tonight my dear, balsamic or creamy Italian?

Answer:
Quote: Originally Posted by noggs ...based on findings at a 4000 year old perfume factory in Cyprus. Says they used olive oil mixed with various herbs and spices, but no flowers.

Here's the link:

http://www.livescience.com/history/0...t_perfume.html Thank you for posting this! How interesting.

Answer:
Wasn't there a National Geographic article six or seven years back that discussed historical fragrances, and included scratch-n-sniff samples of the [alleged] favourite scents of Cleopatra and Napoleon Bonaparte? I have tried to find the article since but haven't had any luck so far.... I remember Napoleon's was lemony, very pleasant.

Answer:
I've been covering this on my Basenotes blog, but haven't got the recipes yet. I've made a perfume of my own based on the notes they have posted on the museum's website (in Italian only). It's surprisingly soft and compelling. I've also made kyphi/kapet in incense and perfume form and found it surprisingly gentle and lovely, great sillage and longevity, and totally different than anything else out there. I spend a lot of time on my blog on this topic, it's an obsession of mine! Glad to see a thread on it, too!

Answer:
As an amateur blender of essential oils for men's fragrances for myself, I appreciate the rudimentary art of producing fragrance. It sounds like those blenders back then had it goin' on! NATURAL herbs and spices, ingredients like almond, coriander, myrtle, conifer resin, bergamot--YUM! Hey, you don't need much.
Quote: Originally Posted by flashpoint321 I find the idea of ancient fragrances very exciting. But I'm afraid that basenotes men are not interested in anything old and classic. They seem to only want the new and hip. I posted a thread about smelling and wearing Napolean's cologne and didn't get one response. Well, I for one love the classics, and I know a lot of other guys here do to, and we've often lamented the fact that fragrance houses don't make men's scents as classic and macho as we'd like them. It seems like they are often trying to go for the new and hip, the next "IT" fragrance. I'd like to see them make a new classic! A new, maybe even better, "old school" men's scent!!!
Thanks for your thread on Napoleon's cologne, which I just read. I looked for the cologne on the internet, but all I found was info about an Eau de Cologne at Saint Helena that was made of fruit extracts and aromatic plants, with a carrier of ethanol (87%) and water. You can apparently buy a recreation:
http://www.historical-perfumes.com/us/Napoleon.htm
And many here know Rance makes Le Vainqueur (The Victor, or The Winner), supposedly a recreation of a fragrance dedicated to Napoleon:
http://www.hamptonct.com/index.cgi/c...rfum-1-7oz.htm
http://www.lusciouscargo.com/showcas...nceedp002.html