Explore the history of fragrance

Did you know we can track the power and influence of fragrance all the way back to ancient times?

Throughout ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, fragrances derived from local flowers, fruits and aromatic woods were used to scent skin, bath water and more. It’s believed that Queen Cleopatra actually had her own perfume-making facility and would scent the sails of her ships to announce her arrival. (It might sound decadent, but our Car Bars basically do the same thing on a smaller scale, don’t you think?)

Across eras, as new lands were discovered, so were naturally fragrant materials: rich spices and amber from the Orient; vanilla, cocoa beans and tobacco from the Americas and India — an entire world of fragrance was begging to be explored. Used for everything from aromatherapy and masking body odors to purification, burial traditions and linking with the gods in religious ceremonies, fragrance has always been a tool for connection, attraction and expression.

Over time, processes for distilling natural fragrances became more sophisticated, plus synthetic ingredients were developed to create scents that couldn’t simply be grown and harvested, like fresh air.

And now, we also use fragrance for pleasure, expressing our unique personalities, likes and dislikes with the perfumes we wear or the fragrances that fill our homes.

At Scentsy, we love fragrance, the way it makes us feel and how it connects us to our past — and to each other.

Every Scentsy fragrance has a unique story to tell, just as Cleopatra’s love of perfume gives us a snapshot of her life and ancient times. When you experience a fragrance like Bonfire Beach, you’re instantly transported to your first family vacation. Or when you warm a scent like Vanilla Bean Buttercream, you’re right back in Nana’s kitchen, ready to bake.

Across thousands of miles, spanning thousands of years, the power of fragrance fills our lives.

With the entire world of fragrance at our fingertips, we’re now able to design new scents to our heart’s content and fill your life with fragrance. It’s exciting, but so many options can also be overwhelming when it’s time to choose a new fragrance to wear or warm. That’s why Scentsy fragrances are organized into seven different fragrance families: fruity, citrus, floral, fresh, woods, spice and bakery.

Even though every Scentsy fragrance is complex, crafted of many different ingredients sourced from all over the world, the fragrance family tells us the true character of the scent. And depending on the season, different fragrance families take center stage.

What’s trending now: Fruity

These scents are ripe, fresh-squeezed and always sweet. Includes notes like pineapple, peach, strawberry and apple.

Fragrance, then and now

Some of the oldest fragrance traditions still inform how we use and why we love our favorite scents today. While Scentsy fragrance designs are rooted in thousands of years of exploration, discovery and development, your tastes are mostly influenced by your own experiences, memories and emotions.

But we’re all connected — even through the ages — by fragrance in all its functions and forms. Which is kind of beautiful, don’t you think?

To explore and shop Scentsy fragrances, reach out to your Consultant or visit their website. Don’t have a Consultant? Find one at scentsy.com.