The perfume roads

The Perfume Roads

The Perfume Roads symbolize the crossing of different worlds and diverse cultures : the Middle East, the Orient and the Western World. Those roads created exchanges of goods, as well as exchanges of ideas and beliefs between the people.

Each country has its own perfume culture, rituals, routes and history. The discovery of this great heritage has given birth today to the awareness of perfumes' cultural wealth. Perfume is a worldwide heritage that must be protected.

Since the most ancient of times, perfume was used by all civilizations.

In Ancient Egypt, they said « Those who breathe the scent of flowers breathe the soul of flowers ».

In South America, Native American doctors were called « Perfumeros ».

In China the sign used to name perfume is similar to the one meaning « remedy » and a proverb says « a perfume is always a medicine ».

In Russia, perfumes were sold essentially in pharmacies. They owned their own laboratories, flower fields and perfume bottle factories.

Follow us in the discovery of the most sensual stories : the stories of people as told by perfume.

« The whole program related to Les Routes du Parfum (The Perfume Roads) attracted all my attention. The promotion of perfume as elemental part of the historical and cultural heritage is an excellent initiative. It is aligned with the UNESCO's mission for the protection and the preservation of the cultural heritage, in particular intangible heritage. »
Hernàn Crespo-Toral,
Deputy Director General of Culture, UNESCO

For her project The Perfume Roads, Creezy Courtoy received UNESCO's high patronage.