Perfumes of the Orient.
Skira| N° d'inventaire | 30013 |
| Format | 20 X 26 |
| Détails | 224 p., numerous color illustrations, paperback. |
| Publication | Paris, 2023 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782370742254 |
Exhibition catalog September 2023 - March 2024 at the Arab World Institute.
Conceived as a journey, this book takes you from Muscat to Marrakech, to discover perfumes in Arab culture. Since Antiquity, Arabia, the land of origin of myrrh and frankincense, has been the crossroads of the trade in spices and precious aromatics, such as the mythical oud or the mysterious musk. So many wonders, brought by caravans from the eastern reaches of the world, which would spread to the shores of the Mediterranean and the Euphrates. Added to these historical and commercial traditions is the pronounced taste of the Prophet of Islam for perfumes. Didn't he say that he loved nothing more than women, perfumes, and prayer? Thus, Arab-Muslim civilization is a civilization of scents: perfumes permeate everyone's life and accompany both social and intimate practices. Enriched by contributions from more than twenty perfume specialists, including noses, sourcers, but also engineers, sociologists and historians, this book celebrates an art as evanescent as it is captivating, which still shapes an entire culture today. From the rose fields of the Draa Valley to the saffron-stained streets of the medina, from the heady scents of the souk to the sacred fumigations of the temple, from jasmine gardens to the honey and orange blossom aromas of oriental cuisine, let yourself be drawn into the fascinating and sensual world of oriental perfumes.
Exhibition catalog September 2023 - March 2024 at the Arab World Institute.
Conceived as a journey, this book takes you from Muscat to Marrakech, to discover perfumes in Arab culture. Since Antiquity, Arabia, the land of origin of myrrh and frankincense, has been the crossroads of the trade in spices and precious aromatics, such as the mythical oud or the mysterious musk. So many wonders, brought by caravans from the eastern reaches of the world, which would spread to the shores of the Mediterranean and the Euphrates. Added to these historical and commercial traditions is the pronounced taste of the Prophet of Islam for perfumes. Didn't he say that he loved nothing more than women, perfumes, and prayer? Thus, Arab-Muslim civilization is a civilization of scents: perfumes permeate everyone's life and accompany both social and intimate practices. Enriched by contributions from more than twenty perfume specialists, including noses, sourcers, but also engineers, sociologists and historians, this book celebrates an art as evanescent as it is captivating, which still shapes an entire culture today. From the rose fields of the Draa Valley to the saffron-stained streets of the medina, from the heady scents of the souk to the sacred fumigations of the temple, from jasmine gardens to the honey and orange blossom aromas of oriental cuisine, let yourself be drawn into the fascinating and sensual world of oriental perfumes.