In a first-of-its-kind investigation, the research team at the University of Cordoba has successfully decoded the ingredients of a 2,000-year-old Roman perfume unearthed from a sealed vessel in Carmona, Spain. The perfume, found within a wealthy family’s tomb, was created using olive oil and featured patchouli, a fragrance from India previously unrecorded in Roman history. Source: University of Córdoba
An ancient ointment vessel discovered within a burial urn from the Roman city of Carmo, known today as Carmona in the province of Seville, facilitated this breakthrough. The team from the University of Cordoba, under the leadership of Organic Chemistry Professor José Rafael Ruiz Arrebola, meticulously analyzed the perfume that dates back to the first century AD.
This pioneering study, conducted by the FQM346 team in partnership with the City of Carmona, represents the first identification of a Roman perfume’s composition from over 2,000 years ago. The findings were published in the Swiss academic journal Heritage. The article elaborates on the comprehensive technical and scientific methodology that allows us to virtually “experience” the scents of the long-gone Roman Empire.
The perfume residue was first discovered in 2019 during an excavation at a mausoleum unearthed during a residential construction project on Calle Sevillat. It had been preserved in a quartz vessel, remaining remarkably sealed all these years. As explained by Juan Manuel Román, the municipal archaeologist of Carmona, the tomb likely belonged to a wealthy family and contained numerous items associated with funerary rituals, including the cremated remains of six adults – three men and three women.
Found amongst the remains of a woman aged between 30 and 40 was a cloth bag (remnants of which survived) housing three amber beads and a tiny flask made of rock crystal (hyaline quartz), shaped like an amphora and containing ointment. Containers for perfume were typically made of blown glass and finding examples made of rock crystal, due to its difficult crafting process and intrinsic characteristics, makes them extremely valuable and expensive.
Ruiz Arrebola highlights the use of dolomite, a carbon variety, as a plug, and the application of bitumen as a sealant, as pivotal factors in maintaining the artifact and its contents in superb condition.
A variety of instrumental techniques, including X-ray diffraction and gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry, were employed to discern the perfume’s composition. The analysis revealed that the perfume had two components: a binder, possibly vegetable oil (though this could not be definitively confirmed), and the fragrance itself. This aligns with descriptions from Pliny the Elder, a renowned Roman author and philosopher.
The scent?
Based on the University of Cordoba’s chemical analysis, the Romans preferred patchouli, an essential oil derived from an Indian plant, Pogostemon cablin. Patchouli, a popular ingredient in modern perfumery, was not previously known to have been used during Roman times. The tomb’s grandeur and the vessel’s material indicate that it was a highly prized commodity.
This research represents a significant advancement in understanding Roman perfumery and the use of patchouli as an essential oil. Further investigations are underway to study other unique materials (such as amber, fabrics, and wall painting pigments) preserved in the Carmona mausoleum.
Reference: “Archaeometric Identification of a Perfume from Roman Times” by Daniel Cosano, Juan Manuel Román, Fernando Lafont, and José Rafael Ruiz Arrebola, 23 May 2023, Heritage.
DOI: 10.3390/heritage6060236
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Roman Perfume Analysis
Where was the 2000-year-old Roman perfume discovered?
The perfume was discovered in a sealed vessel in a wealthy family’s tomb in Carmona, Spain, which is the site of the ancient Roman city of Carmo.
Who identified the composition of the ancient Roman perfume?
The composition of the perfume was identified by a research team from the University of Cordoba, led by Professor of Organic Chemistry José Rafael Ruiz Arrebola.
What were the key components of the Roman perfume?
The key components of the perfume were olive oil and patchouli, an essential oil obtained from the plant Pogostemon cablin, native to India.
How were the perfume components identified?
The components of the perfume were identified using various instrumental techniques including X-ray diffraction and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.
What makes the discovery of the perfume significant?
The discovery of the perfume is significant as it marks the first time the composition of a Roman perfume over 2,000 years old has been identified. Also, the use of patchouli, widely used in modern perfumery, was previously unknown in Roman times.
More about Roman Perfume Analysis
- University of Cordoba
- Heritage Journal
- Information on the ancient city of Carmo (Carmona)
- More about patchouli
- Details on Pliny the Elder
4 comments
Fascinating read! Opens up a whole new window into the world of the Romans. Keep these articles comin’
i love how we’re learning about Rome from a perfume, brilliant! imagine the stories this scent could tell.
interesting stuff! Never thought about ancient perfumes, but it makes sense. Wonder what else they used…
It’s amazing how much we can learn from things buried so long ago. Hats off to the scientists at Cordoba Uni.