Perfume has been produced in some form or other since early in recorded history, when the Mesopotamians regularly used incense during religious ceremonies. However, it's in Ancient Egypt that perfumes first became an important part of everyday life, revered by kings and queens who took their favourite fragrances with them to their tombs.

Queen Hatshepsut is commonly credited with popularising incense in Ancient Egypt, around 3,000 BCE. The popularity of these fragrances led to expeditions being carried out into neighbouring countries and areas to find ever more exotic scents, which resulted in the queen's temple - located near the Valley of the Queens - being filled with incense trees of all kinds, producing a wide range of scents.

During this time, fragrances were not typically applied to the body, but reserved for important religious rites, and were highly valued possessions. This can be clearly seen in the literature of antiquity, including the Bible, in which fragrances are often highly prized and were even reputedly given to the infant Jesus Christ in the form of frankincense and myrrh.

At some point in Egyptian history, perfumes became more affordable for the populace, and citizens were even instructed to apply fragrance at least once per week. Fragrances were also incorporated into oils used for bathing, which was not only useful for reasons of hygiene but was also an important social activity, and often carried out as much as three times daily.

The value placed on perfume by the Ancient Egyptians was made evident when archaeologists began excavating the tombs of pharaohs and other high status individuals, and found bottles filled with fragrances placed alongside the bodies - according to the belief that these would be needed in the afterlife. It was even reported that excavators of King Tutankhamen's tomb could smell a trace of the fragrances entombed with his body when the sarcophagus was opened.

It was around the time of Tutankhamen - more than 3,000 years ago - that perfume shops became big business, and it's easy to imagine the establishments remaining relatively unchanged to many of those found in Egypt and other Islamic countries today. After Egypt was conquered by the Greeks, perfume became increasingly important in Southern Europe too, and spread throughout the world.

Egypt is still an important site for unisex fragrances and essential oils today, particularly for its cultivation of fragrant plants such as jasmine. Many of the world's most popular perfumes can be traced back in some form to the fragrances used by the royalty and citizens of Ancient Egypt millennia ago.

Clint Starr writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.