hTe emperor Caesar wasn’t the only one to cover his body with perfume. The Roman women, besides spreading it on their bodies, were using the perfume to adorn their hair. This tradition seems to come from Greece and Egypt as well.
The Egyptian and Etruscan women kneaded herbs and flowers, especially fragrant ones, with fat or beeswax, making small cones in order to introduce them in their hairstyles. Once exposed to the sun, the cones were melting, giving off intense fragrance.
The most common and accessible raw materials came from Roman dominations and included roses, pomegranates, lavender, quinces, grapes, rosemary and basil. The most precious raw materials were cinnamon myrrh, opobalsam (classic incense) and finally resins and roots.
ANCIENT ROME
