FLOSSI SNIFFS ANCIENT ODORS*
*With acknowledgement from The Oxford Journal of Archaeology, March 2025, by Cecilie Brøns
The ancient Mediterranean world documented the use of perfumes for the human body and for creating scented environments. However, this is an exploration of the lesser-known practice of using perfumes on living beings and sculptures.
Ancient sculptures were not only polychrome and adorned but, in some cases, also scented, creating an experience that engaged both the visuals and the olfactory senses.
Ancient perfumes were denser than modern ones because their base was typically a plant-derived oil or, less commonly, animal fat, in contrast to today’s alcohol-based formulas
This is particularly relevant when considering their use on sculptures, as these oily substances were applied, like balms or creams, not poured.
Some inscriptions specifically mention the use of myron rhodium, a rose perfume that has been popular since Homeric times and is one of the most highly regarded perfumes.
Theophrastos described it as a light fragrance best suited for men, containing rose petals, schoinos, aspalathos, kalamos, and salt.
Dioscurides provided a recipe for myron rhodinon involving oil mixed with schoinos, dry rose petals, and honey.
The petals were kneaded and pressed, then left overnight; the mixture was strained and reused with fresh petals for several batches. Pliny noted that rose perfumes were widely adopted and relatively simple, made from common roses.
Later recipes featured rose blossoms, alamos, honey, sweet rush (incus), and occasionally anchors (alkanet) or cinnabar for colour. Salt was used to slow decay.
Perfumed oils were not the only method for scenting sculptures; flowery wreaths and garlands also served as adornment. These were common in Greek and Roman life, often made of roses and violets, which added fragrance. Both men and women wore them during festive, secular, and religious events.
Funerary wreaths adorned the deceased. While most organic examples have decayed, miniature versions of lead, terracotta, and gold have survived, particularly in tombs. Precious metal wreaths also served as temple offerings, as noted in temple inventories, and may have been worn by priests or guests during rites or placed on cult statues.
One prominent example is the Rosalia, or Rosaria, festival, which celebrates roses during the Roman Empire. Roses were widely used in both public and private festive settings. The Rosalia was not celebrated on a fixed date but typically took place from May to mid-July, aligning with the blooming of roses.
These festivals are noted in various texts, with the earliest references dating back to the reign of Domitian.
Therefore, in addition to their visual allure, ancient sculptures engaged multiple senses, including smell. Scented oils and fragrant garlands transformed static images into multisensory experiences, blurring the boundaries between art and ritual and between human and divine.
