Candida Martinelli's Italophile Site(Soaps/Perfumes)

Italian Soaps and Scents

New: Oriental Perfumes like the Ancient Romans used to use

New: Oriental Perfumes like the Ancient Romans used

Soaps

Perfumes

Oriental Perfumes

Caterina de' Medici's Perfumes

How to Choose a Perfume

Perfume Discount Stores Online

Soap and Perfume Prints

L'Amande Marseilles Line

Some products from the Menage Line

Almond Milk and Honey products from the Armomatique Line

The line includes the local Ligurian scents of: Anise and Blackberry, Lemon Balm and Black Cherry, Masterwort and Pomegranate, Elder and Strawberry Trees, Wormwood and Black Current, Almond Milk and Honey, Lavender and Myrtle.

The Elder and Strawberry Products / Armomatique Line

Eau di parfum from the Fleuri Line

The line includes the local Ligurian floral scents of: Honeysuckle, Cornflower, Citrus Blooms, Broom, Butterbush, Gillyflower. You can read about these scents on their site.

The Perfumed Soaps from the Fleuri Line

Cucina's Lemon and Olive Oil Kitchen Soap at Amazon

Soaps

Italians, like most Europeans, prefer liquid soaps in their baths and for their hands. Those soaps tend to be international brands from international companies.

But there are some Italian companies that produce the traditional bar soaps, like the Sapone di Marseilles (a castile soap made with olive oil). One of those companies is L'Amande. They have a wonderful website that I link through to so you can get more information on their beautiful products.

L'Amande has done a wonderful job of keeping the old products, while adapting to the new products customers want. Their Marseilles Line, for example, includes shampoos, liquid soaps, oils, creams, deodorants, lip moisturizers, even toothpaste! And they have several other lines too:

Sapone di Marseilles gift packs

Ligurian scents, natural bath and beauty products

Ligurian floral scents in bath foams, soaps, and eau di parfum, in boxed sets

L'Amande distributes exclusively through select erboristerie (herbalists) and farmacie (pharmacies) in Italy. So when you're in Italy, check for one near you on their distributor map.

And when in Italy, be sure to check out some of the other erboristerie and farmacie. Many produce their own soaps and scents.

If you're not in Italy, or planning on being there anytime soon, the on-line store Cybercucina has a line of scents, creams and soaps called L'erborlaio. They ship throughout the US.

L'erbolario at CyberCucina

If you're not in Italy, you can always find pure, olive oil castile soap on-line from Caswell and Massey America's oldest chemists and perfumers (from 1752).

Another source is Amazon.com's Olivella olive oil soaps: bar soaps, liquid soaps, and moisturizer.

Olivella Olive Oil Soaps at Amazon.com

But for a truly Italian/Mediterranean scented soap, there can only be one: rosemary soap.

Rosemary grows wild throughout the Mediterranean basin, and has been used for centuries in incense, ointments, and beauty products.

Rosemary's aroma is known to stimulate the memory, and to reduce nervous tension. So when you use rosemary soap, you can first remember, and then lather your cares away.

You can normally find rosemary soap, often in combination with lavender, at herbalist or health food stores. And there are many rosemary soaps available from Amazon.com (oils and creams, too).

Rosemary Soaps and Oils at Amazon.com

One of the soaps available from Amazon.com is Cucina's rosemary and goat's milk exfoliating soap.

They offer other interesting items such as ginger and Sicilian lemon hand cream, and a kitchen soap with lemon and olive oil, to remove food scents from your hands.

Cucina Products at Amazon.com

Cucina's Ginger and Sicilian Lemons Hand Cream at Amazon

Olive Oil Soap by Savon du Monde
From: CyberCucina.com

Lavender Perfumed Soap with Oat Extract By L'Erbolario Lodi
From: CyberCucina.com

Perfumes

The history of perfume begins with the burning of incense made of aromatic plants, woods, resins, spices for religious ceremonies, and later to scent one's home.

For example, the story of the Three Magi, or Wise Men from the Orient, says they brought gifts of Frankincense and Myrrh, both still sold around the world to burn, in an incense burner, to scent one's home.

The word 'perfume' comes from the Latin for 'by smoke', which is how the scents are spread. In most parts of the world today, scents for the home are bigger sellers than scents for one's body.

Visit the souks of North Africa, and you'll find all the raw materials for the essential oils used in natural perfume making. From at least 7000bc the essential oils of plants were mixed with olive oil and sesame oil for use directly on the skin and hair.

Perfume Burner in the Shape of a Lion, from Khorasan, Iran, Seljuk Period, 1038-1194 Giclee Print
Islamic School
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Oriental Perfumes

Mixing essential oils, natural scents, with oil is the method still used today for Indian (Itar) and Arabian (Attar) perfumes, jointly called Oriental Perfumes. The plant essence is usually mixed with sandalwood oil today, for application to the skin. The natural essence is also used to make incense and creams.

The primary ingredients in these traditional scents are:

agarwood (oudh),
rose,
amber,
musk,
patchouli,
bergamot,
honey,
jasmine,
saffron,
sandalwood, and
the guns or resins from fir, birch and cedar,
and even older, Egyptian, ingredients included myrrh, frankincense, henna, lilies, cardamom, cinnamon and cassia (sometimes called Chinese cinnamon).

Egypt, from The Art of Perfume, c.1912 Giclee Print
Barbier, Georges
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These same ingredients are used in Western perfumes that try to copy the traditional Oriental scents, but with an alcohol and water base. Some perfumers classify these Oriental Perfumes as as belonging to four scent 'families':

Floral Oriental (women's sweet flower and spice scents),
Soft Oriental (more spicy than sweet floral perfumes, usually women's scents),
Oriental (musk, resins with floral and spice scents, often men's scents),
Woody Oriental (Sandalwood and Patchouli dominate these spicy and floral scents, often classed as men's scents).

The transfer of knowledge went as so much did, from the far east, to the near east, to the Mediterranean basin and then throughout Europe. The Muslims of the Spanish peninsula did much to spread the use and knowledge of perfume throughout Europe. And as perfume is a traditional gift to give a guest when they leave, perfume gifts no doubt spread quickly among royals and prominent families, many of whom had dealings with North African and Muslim traders and leaders.

Woman Pouring Perfume into a Phial Giclee Print
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The most famous text on perfumes was written about the year 800 by the Arabian chemist Al-Kindi (Alkindus) who lived in Mesopotamia (today's Iraq). In his book 'Book of Chemistry of Perfume and Distillations' he provided detailed information on recipes, techniques, equipment, and the uses of fragrant oils and aromatic waters.

If you have problems with allergies to Western perfume ingredients, or fear cancer and other illnesses from the alcohol and chemicals (real fears, by the way), or have a metabolism that makes light perfumes evaporate quickly, you may want to consider buying Indian or Arabian perfumes.

I've switched to Oriental perfumes and will never go back to Western scents. My first was Shayma'a, produced by Al-Rehab in Saudi Arabia. Here's what I wrote as a comment after it arrived:

"My order of Shayma'a just arrived and it is wonderful! The packaging is beautiful, and the scent glorious.

Western scents fade away on me in minutes, and the synthetic chemicals and alcohol in them worry me for health reasons, so Oriental perfumes are all I will use from now on.

The scent of Shayma'a is of roses, with a woody background scent. And the rose scent is not the one-note, chemical smelling, synthetic rose smell of western perfumes. It is a rich, full-bodied rose scent that makes you feel, if you close your eyes, that you are walking through a rose garden.

The most surprising benefit of Oriental perfumes, for me, anyway, is that after some time wearing a scent, I can still smell the scent, too. Many Western perfumes become impossible to enjoy on yourself, as your nose shuts out the single-note scents. The multi-note, complex, natural scents in Oriental perfumes are not shut out. You can enjoy the wonderful scent too!"

I've since purchased Shahrazad (named for Scheherazade, of Arabian Nights fame). It's strongest scent is of saffron, a light but spicy scent, then there are floral scents mixed in.

My husband gave me for my birthday Junaina. It is a Damascus Rose base scented perfume oil, with a heart scent of Malaysian Oudh Oil, and with top notes of Amber and Patchouli. It is a wonderful scent for an evening out. He purchased it from Arabian Bazaar, whose products I feature on this page, and it arrived in 5 days with DHL, perfectly wrapped in bubble plastic to protect the bottle and wooden box.

As you can see from the image to the right, the packaging is as special as the perfume! The columned-box is made of wood, and the heavy crystal bottle sits inside the columns on a bed of silk. The top opens so you can get the perfume bottle in and out. It is about a hand high. I can't wait for my next birthday gift!

Oriental perfumes are made from all natural ingredients, contain a higher concentration of scent essence, and are made with sandalwood oil, so it does not evaporate away. They can seem more expensive (be sure to check out Arabian Bazaars perfume specials that cost under 50$), as natural ingredients are expensive, but you need less to get the same strength of scent as a watery perfume, and they last longer so you need to reapply it less often. So in the end, they can come out being less expensive than Western perfumes.

The scent matures to its base scent 30 minutes after you put it on, usually just a touch with the applicator behind your ears and/or knees, and at your pulses. And to be honest, the petite (generally 12 to 24 ml), beautiful containers they come in put western perfumers to shame, don't you agree?

They each have a glass or metal 'applicator' attached to the lid. The stick-like applicator allows you to easily put a touch of perfume on your skin. Remember, all you need is a touch or two, because the perfumes are concentrated. If you want to try some of these pictured above, or give one as a gift, here are direct links to an on-line shop, Arabian Bazaar, that ships them around the world.

Fakhrul Arab - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 85.00
Arabian Attar : Fakhrul Arab Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil The Arabian land has forever been known for its vast landscaped deserts, its rich oil resources, and the enchanting aromas that flourish in this pristine land. The newest aroma is Fakhrul Arab, a heady concoction of Henna, Sandalwood, Saffron and choicest of Arabian flowers. SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Spicy FRAGRANCE NOTES : Henna, Sandalwood, Saffron and choicest of Arabian flowers. QUANTITY : 25 ml (0.845 oz) WEIGHT : 640 gms (approximately)

Attar Mubakhar - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 63.00
Arabian Attar : Attar Mubakhar Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil Touted as an aphrodisiac, as you can see from this flowery description: 'A splash of the waves against the rocks, a playful kiss from the flirtatious breeze, and the uneasy silence between you two. While the shimmering beauty of your loved one is enough to captivate your sanity, in a tentative moment like this, what you need is dexterity. The exquisite stimulating aroma of Attar Mubakhar will get things moving. And then the waves can splash to glory, but they will not be able to douse the passion ignited by this enigmatic fragrance.' SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Sweet QUANTITY : 30 ml (1.014 oz) WEIGHT : 426 gms (approximately)

Dehan Al Oudh Khussosi Qadeem - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 120.00
Arabian Attar : Dehan Al Oudh Khussosi Qadeem Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil The Oil of a special type of Dehnal Oudh is preserved for five long years, in order to procure a certain thickness. When it matures, there is nothing on this earth that smells so wonderful as this fragrance. SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Agarwoody (Woody) FRAGRANCE NOTES : Dehnal Al Oudh QUANTITY : 6 ml (0.203 oz) WEIGHT : 502 gms (approximately)

Musk Al Haramain - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 32.00
Arabian Attar : Musk Al Haramain Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil Musk Al Haramain is holiness personified and embodies the purity inherent inside every soul. It is used in the Kaaba, the holy place in Makkah. The oil is derived from pure Musk and pure rose to give a soft feeling to the wearer. SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Sweet FRAGRANCE NOTES : Musk (Small Quantity) and Pure Rose. QUANTITY : 12 ml (0.406 oz) WEIGHT : 246 gms (approximately)

Muzakkerat - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 29.00
Arabian Attar : Muzakkerat Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Sweet QUANTITY : 12 ml (0.406 oz) WEIGHT : 198 gms (approximately)

Sama - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 75.00
Arabian Attar : Sama Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil It's a scorching summer day. You wish for a cool sunny day. Suddenly, nature smiles on you. The suns turns mild, birds chirp and flowers blossom. Life is in tune with the lullaby of gentle waves. It's the Sama World. Basic Ingredients : Dehan Al Oudh from Laos, Amber, Woody mixtures of freshness similar to European fragrances. Quantity : 20 ml (0.676 oz )

Mukhallat Maliki - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 39.00
Arabian Attar : Mukhallat Maliki Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil A whiff of this most sought after perfume, Mukhallat Maliki will send your spirits soaring. It contains all these heady ingredients: Amber, Agarwood, Henna, Sandalwood and Saffron. SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Agarwoody (Woody) FRAGRANCE NOTES : Amber, Agarwood, Henna, Sandalwood and Saffron. QUANTITY : 10 ml (0.338 oz) WEIGHT : 208 gms (approximately)

1001 Nights (Alf Laila O Laila) - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 103.55
Arabian Attar : 1001 Nights (Alf Laila O Laila) Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil This fragrance was designed around an oriental mukhallat route with rich warm notes with a seductive touch to it. The top notes of the scent are fresh-woody. The middle notes are woody-floral scent. The base notes are musky-mossy. SCENT : Woody-Floral CLASSIFICATION : Fresh-Woody FRAGRANCE NOTES : Musky-Mossy QUANTITY : 30ml (0.94 oz) WEIGHT : 525 gms (approximately)

The major producers of Arabian perfumes are Al Haramain based in the United Arab Emirates, Rasasi in Dubai, and Ajmal Perfumes and Al-Rehab in Saudi Arabia. All the producers have exlusive shops in the major shopping cities and centers in the Near East and North Africa. But more convenient for the worldwide shopper are several online shops that sell them and they ship around the world.

Arabian Bazaar is one of those online shops. Some of the more unique scents and packaging are worth special attention, so I feature them here below. (A big thank you to Arabian Bazaar for allowing me to showcase their amazing products!) I strongly suggest you consider surprising a special someone with an Oriental perfume. All you need to know is if they like floral, citrus, spicy or woody scents. Then you should be able to pick out one they will love.

Al Thoriya - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 99.00
Arabian Attar : Al Thoriya Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil QUANTITY : 20 ml WEIGHT : 627 gms (approximately)

Affaf - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 95.00
Arabian Attar : Affaf Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil As pure as budding rose, before the first touch of a bee. Feel it in Affaf Perfume Oil. SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Spicy FRAGRANCE NOTES : Virgin Amber, Dehan Al Oudh, Sandal and Thaif Rose. QUANTITY : 45 ml (1.522 oz) WEIGHT : 1040 gms (approximately)

Mukhallat Al Quds - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 89.00
Buy Arabian Attar : Mukhallat Al Quds Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil A mixture of Amber Motiyaan, Dehnal Oudh, Sandal Musk and Khalta (a rare extract from Saudi Hills). SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Sweet FRAGRANCE NOTES : A mixture of Amber Motiyaan, Dehnal Oudh, Sandal Musk and Khalta (a rare extract from Saudi Hills). QUANTITY : 9 ml (0.304 oz) WEIGHT : 658 gms (approximately)

Safeena Al Arab - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 50.00
Arabian Attar : Safeena Al Arab Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Agarwoody (Woody) QUANTITY : 20 ml (0.676 oz) WEIGHT : 274.80 gms (approximately)

Attar Al Kaaba - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 72.25
Arabian Attar : Attar Al Kaaba Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil Imagine.... the culmination of divineness into a sacred aura for serene minds. Imagine feeling this even if you are thousands of miles away from the Kaaba (from the Haj) Attar Al Kaaba, the feeling is in the perfume. Made of Dehnal Oudh, Amber, Sandal and Thaif Rose. SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Spicy FRAGRANCE NOTES : Virgin Amber, Dehan Al Oudh, Sandal and Thaif Rose. QUANTITY : 25 ml WEIGHT : 602 gms (approximately)

Mazaaj (Mood)- Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 70.00
Arabian Attar : Mazaaj Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil QUANTITY : 20 ml WEIGHT : 334 gms (approximately)

Sedra - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 58.00
Arabian Attar : Sedra Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil What does it call for understanding the orient? It calls for knowing the desert, the sea, the mountain, the holy places and the florae and faunae. Sedra is the orient in a perfume. SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Spicy QUANTITY : 30 ml (1.014 oz) WEIGHT : 590 gms (approximately)

The most expensive perfume in the world is made by Ajmal Perfumes: Dahnal Al Oude Moattaq, which costs about 1000US$ for 12ml, and contains 'the most precious Arabian scents fit for kings'. It is dominated by the favorite Oriental scent, Oudh (also Oud and Oude), which is agarwood that has interacted with a parasite, to create a distinctive, pleasing, earthy scent. It is often a background scent in Oriental perfumes, that can have a dominant scent of either citrus, spice or floral scents.

If you are interested in owning, using or giving as a gift, some of the most exclusive perfumes made today, here are some that are available from Arabian Bazaar. These perfumes are expensive not just because of the expensive ingredients, but also for the luxurious packaging of crystal bottles, some with gold-leaf, and the special, lined boxes the perfume bottle comes in. They really are very special items!

Dehan Al Oudh Moattaq (12 ml) - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 997.00
Arabian Attar : Dehan Al Oudh Moattaq Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil Dehan al Oudh Moattaq, probably the most expensive perfume in the world, is a fragrance for kings and a true reflection of Arabian splendour. A rich blend of the finest oils matured over the years, Dahn Al Oudh Moattaq is not just a perfume but a jewel. The perfume is presented in a solid hand crafted crystal bottle with a gold plated jacket on the shoulder. The pear shape bottle has a unique coating that enhances its dazzle and gives it the feel of a large diamond. SCENT : Woody FRAGRANCE NOTES : Dehan Al Oudh QUANTITY : 12 ml (0.405 oz) WEIGHT : 1475 gms (approximately)

Dehan Al Oudh Manasek - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 940.00
Arabian Attar : Dehan Al Oudh Manasek Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Agarwoody QUANTITY : 12 ml (0.405 oz) WEIGHT : 1943 gms (approximately)

Dehan Al Oudh Mukhallat - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 850.00
Arabian Attar : Dehan Al Oudh Mukhallat Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil This is a blend of the finest Dehan Al Oudh. A Fragrance you would proudly associate with. A good perfume is a jewel but an exotic perfume is a treasure. Dehnal Oudh fragrance lingers long enough to create delight even many hours later. SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Agarwoody (Woody) FRAGRANCE NOTES : Dehan Al Oudh Mukhallat (Mixture of Attars) QUANTITY : 60 ml (2.029 oz) WEIGHT : 2600 gms (approximately)

Attar Al Umrah - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 495.00
Arabian Attar : Attar Al Umrah Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Sweet QUANTITY : 125 ml (4.22 oz) WEIGHT : 1953 gms (approximately)

Wardh Taifi - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 490.00
Buy Arabian Attar : Wardh Taifi Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Fresh FRAGRANCE NOTES : Pure Rose QUANTITY : 12 ml (0.405 oz) WEIGHT : 805 gms (approximately)

Mukhallat Al Manasek - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 470.00
Arabian Attar : Mukhallat Al Manasek Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Sweet QUANTITY : 75ml (2.53 oz) WEIGHT : 1478 gms (approximately)

Mukhallat Dehan Al Oudh Moattaq - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 320.00
Arabian Attar : Mukhallat Dehan Al Oudh Moattaq Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil Mukhallat Dehan Al Oudh Moattaq is one of the most exclusive perfumes among Ajmal creations. An exotic formulation created around the warm notes of Dahn Al Oudh, its top note carries rich woody notes in harmony with pure Turkish rose oil and a blend of exotic Indian herbs. The heart exudes Amber and woody feel with the base culminating in Musky-Powdery, soft-animal and rosy notes. Presented in a cut crystal bottle, Mukhallat Moattaq is truly a connoisseurs’ delight. SCENT : Amber - Woody CLASSIFICATION : Woody - Floral - Spicy FRAGRANCE NOTES : Musky - Powdery - Animal QUANTITY : 18 ml (0.608 oz) WEIGHT : 1575 gms (approximately)

Dehan Al Oudh Seufi - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 299.00
Buy Arabian Attar : Dehan Al Oudh Seufi Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Agarwoody (Woody) FRAGRANCE NOTES : Dehnal Al Oudh QUANTITY : Half Tola (App. 6ml) WEIGHT : 1191 gms (approximately)

Dehan Al Oudh Tharaa - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 285.00
Arabian Attar : Dehan Al Oudh Tharaa Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil QUANTITY : 3 ml (0.101 oz) WEIGHT : 917gms (approximately)

Dehn Al Oudh Saif Al Arab - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 241.00
Arabian Attar :Rouh Al Khaleej Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil Rouh Al Khaleej is a pioneering oriental concentrate with a floral, ambery heart and spicy, marine top note. This modern and trend setting fragrance - translated as 'Soul of the Gulf' - is designed for fashionable, charismatic women who love to experiment yet stay connected to the heart and soul of the Arabian Peninsula. TOP : Spicy - Marine HEART : Floral - Ambery BASE : Woody - Fruity QUANTITY : 24 ml WEIGHT : 467 gms (approximately)

Mukhallat Maliki (Elite) - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 230.00
Buy Arabian Attar : Mukhallat Maliki Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Sweet QUANTITY : 25 ml (0.845 oz) WEIGHT : 1478gms (approximately)

Saif Al Hind (Sword of India)- Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 220.00
Arabian Attar : Saif Al Hind Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil Exquisitely packed in a slender and compact hand-cut crystal bottle, Saif Al Hind is an exquisite fragrance made from pure and matured high quality Dehan Al Oudh. The crystal bottle comes in an exclusive and modern pack with rosewood touch. Saif Al Hind meaning Sword of India, carries an elite feel that makes it stand a class apart among all fragrances. SCENT : Woody FRAGRANCE NOTES : Dehan Al Oudh QUANTITY : 3 ml (0.101 oz) WEIGHT : 665 gms (approximately)

Attar Al Qasoor - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 210.00
Arabian Attar : Attar Al Qasoor Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Oriental CLASSIFICATION : Agarwoody QUANTITY : 12 ml (0.405 oz) WEIGHT : 1878 gms (approximately)

Attar Al Nafees - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 210.00
Arabian Attar : Attar Al Nafees Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil SCENT : Floral CLASSIFICATION : Fresh QUANTITY : 20 ml (0.676 oz) WEIGHT : 1837 gms (approximately)

Khallab - Arabian Perfume Oil - $ 205.00
Arabian Attar : Hadeer Perfume Oil / Fragrance Oil Hadeer is an exceptional oriental concentrate combined with precious western ingredients that expresses a harmonious blend, evoking a warm sensation deep within the soul. QUANTITY : 30ml (0.94 oz)

And you have to check out this unique perfume and travel goody carrier:

Perfume Holding Box (Medium)- Arabian Wooden Box - $ 187.00
Arabian Perfume Oil Holding Box. Includes: Mubakhar Lighter, 3 Half Tola Bottles, Oudh Box, Spatula, Spray Crystal Bottle, Match Box

The Oriental perfume containers hark back to the oldest perfume containers known to us today, Egyptian containers. The oldest Egyptian perfume containers were made of stone (hollowed out) especially alabaster. Later glass containers were blown into shapes such as animals and flowers. Ancient Roman used similar containers, and they called their stone, clay and glass perfume containers unguentaria, or ointment-holders. If you want to know more about Roman Perfumes, try this informative perfume site.

Etruscan Perfume Holder Giclee Print
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Today, you can buy new Egyptian perfume containers made just as they were in the past. They all include the stick-like applicator. If you are in Egypt (or other North African countries), you can buy them at the markets and in shops. But if you are elsewhere, you can buy them in specialty shops or on-line. Here are some examples from Bazaar Egypt, an Egyptian on-line store that ships around the world (very expensive shipping!), all priced about 10$ each.

You can Google-search for 'Egypt perfume bottle' and you'll find lots of suppliers, and you can filter it out for one in your area, to reduce shipping costs.

Perfume Bottles, the Souqs of Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco Photographic Print
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A big thank you to Arabian Bazaar for allowing me to showcase their amazing products! They also sell incense, creams and other products with Oriental scents, and many more perfumes than I show here, so if you are serious about buying an Oriental perfume for someone, it's worth a click through for a browse of their products and special offers.

If you want to know more about Roman Perfumes, try this informative perfume site.

Another interesting site is Zahras Boutique that sells everything from clothing to perfumes to Persian-carpet-mousepads, believe it or not!

They sell the perfumes of all the major Oriental perfume manufacturers (direct links below), and they ship around the world from subsidiaries around the world. And for a low shipping cost, they will send you free samples of Oriental perfumes so you can try the various types to see which suits you or your loved one best, before ordering a full-sized perfume. I received mine, and I'm in love with them all! But I requested the samples so I could have my husband try them and see what he would be comfortable wearing. He loved them too (I had requested samples of men's scents)!

   * Rasasi
    * Swiss Arabian
    * Ashgarali
    * Ajmal
    * Arabian Oud
    * Al Haramain
    * Syed Alam Junaid
    * Abdul Samad Al Qurashi
    * Amouage
    * Al Rehab
    * Hamil Al Musk
* Reehat Al Atoor

The Perfumes of Caterina de' Medici

It was the Queen of Hungary in 1370 who is credited with having her personal perfumer mix the scent essence with alcohol and water. This dilution allowed the scent to be atomized onto the body or clothes. It also made the scent less concentrated. Water and alcohol evaporate easily, so the scent needed to be reapplied more often. Some scented oils can remain on the skin and clothes for 3 days or more. 'Hungary water', as it was first called, allowed the wearer to alter his/her scent during the course of the day.

The Medici of Tuscany, Italy, brought perfumes to Paris with Caterina de Medici (image below is of a young Catherine with the typical Renaissance plucked forehead to raise the hair line). She traveled to Paris to marry into the French royal family, and took along her personal perfumer, Renato Blanco, called by the French Rene le Florentin. He was also the man who distilled Caterina's potions that she used as medicine, and murderous poison. Renato was the first of many Italian perfumers who set up shop in Paris, and sourced their materials from near and far. Many of the main floral ingredients came and still comes from Montpellier and Grasse, in the south of France.

Dr. Giovanni di Massimo, a Florentine perfumer, apothecary and founder of I Profumi di Firenze, discovered Catherine de' Medici's perfume recipes as well as other Medici fragrance formulas when the Arno River flooded his perfumery-apothecary shop and much of Florence in 1966.

While removing the water that flooded his store, he found in his laboratory's basement, an antique manuscript containing the formulas. It was a remarkable discovery but not completely a surprise. The perfume shop had been a perfume/apothecary shop since the Middle Ages. During the Renaissance, the Medici Palace was across the square and the Medici would commission fragrances from the shop.

From the formulas commissioned for Catherine de' Medici, Dr. Massimo chose the one he thought most beautiful, named it for her and trademarked her Italian name, Caterina de' Medici, for the perfume. The other fragrances of the I Profumi di Firenze collection are based on actual Medici formulas discovered in the manuscript or blends favored by the Renaissance nobility that were passed down through the shop owners. Interestingly, they called the potions odorifere acque, or scented waters.

You can buy the perfumes directly from Dr. di Massimo's shop in Florence. Some resellers can be found elsewhere, but the supply seems to be limited, and the prices climb quickly once you leave Florence. Many of the I Profumi di Firenze fragrances are available via Amazon.com from time to time (the link in the right column is not always active). Each product description says exactly the fragrances in the perfume, such as Bergamot, Magnolia, Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange, Damascus Rose, Iris, Jasmine, Cardamon, Vanilla, and Honeysuckle.

I Profumi di Firenze Perfumes at Amazon.com

Caterina de' Medici Perfume scent: Damascus Rose, Lily of the Valley, Florentine Iris

How to Choose a Perfume

The biggest advancement for perfume was the development from 1868 of synthetic fragrances. The advantage and benefit of synthetics in perfumes, combined with natural scents, besides lowering the price of perfumes, is the consistent quality of the scent. The biggest drawbacks are the single note quality of synthetic scents, rather than the complex fragrances found in natural scents, and the possibility of allergies and illnesses from the chemicals

Every Italian designer offers a perfume line. Below, I feature many of the more popular ones, with descriptions of the scents. You may want to get several scents for your various moods and settings (home, work, play, elegant event...).

Be sure to try a perfume on your skin (not just the paper strips or 'touches' sellers use) because all scents change after a few moments in contact with your skin, and they change differently with each person.
Test a perfume's 'persistance' or persistence, meaning how long does it remain on your skin. Until recently, Italian perfumes were notorious for having almost no 'persistance'. Now all major perfumes are made by multi-national conglomerates, so all have 'persistance' but not all are the same.
Test a perfume's 'sillage'. The 'sillage' is smell that remains after the wearer has gone. Some perfumes have revolting 'sillage' that overpower the senses, that's when you see people trying to wave away a scent after someone has left the room. You want a 'sillage' but not an overpowering one.
And lastly, do not be deceived by the meaningless distinctions marketers have created between 'male' and 'female' perfumes. That difference does not exist. It was created because marketers did not believe they could convince men that wearing the same perfume a woman might wear would guarantee his irresistibility to women, which is the sales pitch for most men's scents. So try all scents, and see which suit your chemistry and tastes.

Persia, Illustration from The Art of Perfume, Pub. 1912 Giclee Print
Barbier, Georges
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Two fascinating and entertaining books about perfumes, available via Amazon.com

Perfume Discount Stores On-Line

Perfumes are expensive to create, produce, market, sell, and expensive for the consumer to buy. But for many traditionalists, one is not really well-dressed if one does not wear a scent! So to be well-dressed, and not break the bank, here is Tuccini an on-line seller that offers their discounted (but genuine!) perfumes to site visitors from around the world.