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Perfumes, rituals and material culture
The search for aromas created from the mixture of oils and essences, of both vegetable and animal origin, dates back to antiquity and represents a process of research seeking the fragrances best suitable for the changing tastes and desired uses of different epochs. The ritual uses of fragrances related to divinity alternated with the personal use of perfumes.
Their use was used to camouflage bad smells and to express the social status of those who wore them, becoming a symbol of cleanliness, style and elegance reserved for the privileged classes of society.
The high value of perfumes favoured the appearance of extraordinary art objects to contain them. The use of materials such as ivory, silver and amber in the making of exquisite cases containing such precious essences clearly reflects the importance of the contents.