The place of the Middle East in perfumery.

The Middle East is a key place in the history of perfumery, due to its proximity to the main producing regions of essential oils and aromatic plants. For centuries, perfumes have been used in the region for cultural, religious and medicinal reasons.

The tradition of perfumery in the Middle East dates back to ancient times, where Egyptians, Persians and Arabs used perfumes in religious rituals and ceremonies. Perfumes were also used to embalm the dead and pharaohs were buried with bottles of precious perfumes. Perfumes were also used for skin care and to treat illnesses.

The Arabs were the main contributors to the development of modern perfumery. In the Middle Ages, Arab alchemists developed techniques to extract essential oils from plants and use them in perfumes. They also created new methods for distilling oils and perfected the art of composing perfumes. Their work was transmitted across Spain and Italy to Europeans, who developed modern perfumery.

Today, the Middle East remains an important place for the production of essential oils and raw materials for perfumery. The main producing regions are Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and Turkey. Traditional Middle Eastern fragrances, such as oud and bakhoor, are highly valued around the world for their complexity and aromatic richness.

Finally, perfumery is a growing field in the Middle East, with the appearance of new talents and emerging brands. Local consumers are becoming increasingly demanding and savvy, and brands seek to meet this demand by offering high-quality products, inspired by local tradition and ingredients.