Everything that is not written or preserved through oral tradition is forgotten. How many cities, works of art, beliefs, and ancient languages have disappeared from our historical memory!
If we return to the distant past through various traces that are rarely preserved today, exploring the history of scent use and its importance in both sacred and everyday life, we will see that for ancient peoples, scent, along with music, dance, and prayer, was one of the ritual elements that symbolically conveyed a message.
An integral part of sacrificial rituals was the burning of aromatic plants, plant resins, fragrant grains, and berries. The scent of the smoke rose up like a bridge between heaven and earth.
Scents throughout history
The use of scents dates back to the earliest days of humanity. All ancient civilizations attached great importance to the beneficial influence of scents. Temples and homes, sacred and everyday moments, were all filled with scents.
In an Egyptian myth of creation, the lotus Nun was the first thing to emerge from the waters, bringing with it a scent. Egyptian papyri and reliefs testify to the fact that Egyptians used aromatic essences from various plants. Cedar, myrrh, and frankincense were just some of them. The process of making fragrant preparations sometimes took months until the desired scent note for a specific ceremonial purpose was achieved.
In the Vedas, ancient Indian scriptures, scents of sandalwood, jasmine, cedar, plumeria, and roses are mentioned. Ancient texts describe the rituals and attribute the beneficial influence of scent use. In Hindu philosophy, flowers and scents associated with them have symbolic and spiritual value. By burning offerings on the altar, a fragrant scent was released, connecting the human spirit with the transcendent.
Ancient Chinese and Japanese used scents in ceremonies honoring ancestors, aiming to free the deceased from earthly attachments.
The ancient Greeks, as well as the Romans, used scents in many aspects. The Egyptians were skilled in the art of making and using perfumes. Scents were a part of public and private life, and celebrations were marked by the burning of fragrant substances in public spaces. Peppermint played an important role in this for the Romans.
Initially, the church fathers condemned the use of incense in ceremonial occasions because it was an integral part of Roman rituals, and the censer with fire and incense was also carried in front of the emperor in solemn processions.
And the peoples of the New World also used fragrance in their celebrations – Iris of tobacco, sage, cedar, and wormwood.
Peace.
Cedar.
Frankincense.
Myrtle.
Fragrant herbs and aromatic substances
We will mention only some of the aromatic substances that have marked various cultures.
Frankincense
The use of frankincense is older than all written records. Its deep, warm, and rich scent seems to carry the incorruptibility of the resin from which it is made. Frankincense has the ability to slow down and deepen breathing, bringing a person into a state of calmness and mindfulness necessary for prayer and meditation. The burning of frankincense has remained part of rituals in numerous religions.
And modern aromatherapy emphasizes the same properties of frankincense. Frankincense acts as an antidepressant, reduces hyperactivity, impatience, irritability, and restlessness, and improves concentration.
Myrtle
The history of myrtle use intertwines with the use of frankincense. These two plants were used for liturgical purposes, as well as for incense, embalming, and ointment making.
Myrtle was a component of various rituals and was considered a symbol of beauty and love. The essential oil of myrtle has a fresh and uplifting scent, promoting relaxation and strengthening the respiratory system.
Alcohol, embalming fluid, medicines, cosmetic products, and perfumes are mentioned. It is mentioned in Egyptian papyri, Vedas, Greek and Roman writings, the Old and New Testament, and the Quran.
The scent of its oil has a calming effect and is often used to achieve a meditative state.
Sandalwood:
In India, China, and Indochina, sandalwood has long played an important role in Hindu and Buddhist religious rituals. For the East, sandalwood was what frankincense was for the West. Sandalwood oil is an aromatic oil with the longest tradition.
Like frankincense, sandalwood also has a calming and harmonizing effect, reducing tension and confusion, and assisting with fear, anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia, which is why it is used in aromatherapy.
From its noble and fragrant wood, precious furniture was made, filling the space with its scent.
Cedar:
Cedar oil is one of the oldest known essential oils. Its warm, clean, and long-lasting scent is a symbol of spiritual dreams. ote, nobility and dignity, were used for incense in sanctuaries. Burning cedarwood and myrrh expressed gratitude to the gods. Cedarwood was often used to build sanctuaries, as well as furniture, candles, sarcophagi, and chests in which sacred texts were stored. The Lebanese cedar in particular was highly esteemed.
The ancient Egyptians used it in embalming. The pharaoh’s ceremonial boat was also built with cedarwood. It is mentioned among the fragrances in the Epic of Gilgamesh, as well as in the oldest known medical document, a Sumerian clay tablet inscribed with cuneiform script five thousand years ago.
Modern aromatherapy believes that cedar refreshes and tones the entire body, simultaneously reducing stress, anxiety, and tension, while its antimicrobial properties have been known since ancient times.
Rosemary
Sprigs of rosemary have been found in the tombs of the First Egyptian Dynasty. The Greeks and Romans considered this plant sacred. They referred to it as the “incense shrub” and burned it in their home sanctuaries.
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This strong but warm scent clears the mind, stimulates, stabilizes, and strengthens.
Thyme
Sumerian records indicate that this plant was used over five and a half thousand years ago.
The powerful antiseptic and preserving properties of thyme were well-known in ancient Egypt, so it was used in the embalming process. The Greeks used it to fumigate their homes to protect against infectious diseases.
The scent of thyme has been celebrated in many literary works.
The name thymus (thyme) derives from the Greek word thymon, meaning courageous, and many customs are associated with that meaning. Roman soldiers would bathe in water with added thyme to become more brave. Medieval European ladies would gift their knights with sprigs of thyme.
Marjoram
Its pleasant and aromatic scent resembles sage, marjoram, and lavender.
For the Greeks and Jews, marjoram was a sacred plant. It is mentioned several times in the Old Testament: Sprinkle me with marjoram to cleanse me, wash me, and I will be whiter. and from snow. (Psalm of David 51.9)
It was used for cleaning sacred things and sacred spaces.
Laurel
Laurel was used by the ancient Egyptians. The Greeks and Romans believed that laurel protected and guarded them from evil and dedicated it to Apollo, the god of light, healing, prophecy, and harmony. The holy laurel leaf symbolized victory, so laurel branches were woven into a victory wreath, and during the Middle Ages, laurel branches were burned in public places during the plague.
Although ancient knowledge of scents has been lost, they can still create a pleasant, clean, and fragrant environment for us today. Aromatherapy rediscovers their important effect on the human body, emotions, and mind.
The language of scents is a “lost language”, but a careful seeker can still glimpse the role scents had in ancient times, how they elevated the human spirit in prayer.