Medieval islamicate aromatherapy: medical perspectives on aromatics and perfumes

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the medieval Islamic world perfume occupied an important place. Both men and women used scented preparations. Much of our information about perfumery comes from the writings of physicians who both prescribed scented compounds and described their manufacture in formularies. Individual aromatic ingredients and compound perfumes were prized for their purported medicinal properties, described in terms of humoral theory. This aspect of pharmacology is well described by the physicians in their works. But some writers go beyond these limits to explore the psychological dimensions of scent, linking specific aromas to certain mental states and associating them with gender. Rules of decorum also recommended different perfumes according to the identity of the user. The creation of perfumes in the medieval Islamic world was thus an art which combined medical, esthetic, and social considerations.