Making Silk Road Inspired Perfume Oils

The Silk Road opened parts of Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe to trade.Merchants sold their wares from one end to the other and back again. Silk and spices were heavily traded but so also were perfumes and incense.These were used both for religious purposes and for personal care.

For those looking to recreate a bit of ancient history, oils and fragrances in modern times can be combined to produce at least the essence of the scents of the Silk Road. The key is combining the fragrances that were popular in different places and eras to make unique scents for modern wear.

Ancient Egyptian perfumes were made to evoke warm and rich scents. Favorite ingredients included frankincense and myrrh. A special blend noted by ancient historians was called kyphi. Of the recipes preserved from ancient times, few ingredients appeared in all of the formulations, but all of the ingredients recorded would provide a sweet and spicy scent. Honey, myrrh, juniper berries, calamus, and cinnamon appear in some of the recipes. The Ancient Egyptians used many carrier oils but moringa oil seems to have been a popular choice.

Ancient Greeks favored more herbal blends, including scents like thyme, rosemary, marjoram, and lavender.Their perfumed oils also doubled as apothecary remedies in some cases, such as thyme being both pleasing to the nose and a disinfectant. A very common carrier oil of that time was olive oil.

But it was the Ancient Persians who truly elevated perfumery to an art. With their connections to India and Arabia through the Silk Road, they transformed incenses, ambergris, musk, and spices into scents. They also began distilling plants and flowers to create essential oils. Ancient Persian perfumes utilized rose water, lily of the valley, and jasmine in creating personal scents and royal formulations.

To recreate your own ancient-inspired scents, you can use olive oil or almond oil for a base. Almond oil provides a more neutral scented base, which is why I use it in my recipes. I also include vitamin E oil in the winter to provide a little extra protection for my dry skin.

Procure some essential oils in the fragrances that will most closely match those of the area you want to emulate. Do be careful, as some of the essential oils, like cinnamon, can irritate your skin, even in small amounts. Use these recipes as ratios, and adjust the amounts to the strength of the scent you want.Don’t be afraid to add a little more of one than another to highlight the fragrance notes you want for yourself.

To create your own scented oils, you will need a clean bottle to mix in. You may also want a small funnel, but I find that dropping the oils directly into the bottle is most effective. Acquire the essential oils you want and droppers for them. Finally, you will need a clean bottle to hold your finished product, preferably a dark glass to minimize exposure to light, which can alter your scent.

2 oz almond oil (the carrier oil)

10 drops of myrrh

10 drops of calamus

A small blob (about 10 drops) of benzoin (for sweetness in lieu of honey)

2 drops of cinnamon oil

Put the carrier oil into your mixing bottle. Add each essential oil to the carrier oil. Cover the top of the bottle and give it a gentle shake to mix the oils. Sniff the resulting oil. If you want to adjust it, make your changes, cover, and gently shake again. Check your new version. If you are happy with it, transfer it to the bottle you will store it in and enjoy!

I wear this as a sort of signature scent, applying it liberally after bath or lightly before going out.

2 oz almond oil

10 drops of lemongrass

10 drops of cypress

10 drops of eucalyptus

Put the carrier oil into your mixing bottle. Add each essential oil to the carrier oil. Cover the top of the bottle and give it a gentle shake to mix the oils. Sniff the resulting oil. If you want to adjust it, make your changes, cover, and gently shake again. Check your new version. If you are happy with it, transfer it to the bottle you will store it in and enjoy!

I put this on every morning before I leave the house during cold and flu season.

2 oz almond oil

10 drops of lemongrass

10 drops of cypress

10 drops of lavender

Put the carrier oil into your mixing bottle. Add each essential oil to the carrier oil. Cover the top of the bottle and give it a gentle shake to mix the oils. Sniff the resulting oil. If you want to adjust it, make your changes, cover, and gently shake again. Check your new version. If you are happy with it, transfer it to the bottle you will store it in and enjoy!

These essential oils are supposed to help with swelling. I apply this mix liberally every night as I am going to bed.

2 oz almond oil

10 drops rose

10 drops jasmine

Put the carrier oil into your mixing bottle. Add each essential oil to the carrier oil. Cover the top of the bottle and give it a gentle shake to mix the oils. Sniff the resulting oil. If you want to adjust it, make your changes, cover, and gently shake again. Check your new version. If you are happy with it, transfer it to the bottle you will store it in and enjoy!

This is a light floral scent I sometimes wear in the summer months.

I hope you find this beginning guide useful as you discover new combinations of scents to remind you of the master perfumers of ancient times.