Our research Objectives
A Lexicon of Ancient Greco-Egyptian Perfumery
Our lexicon is unique. Instead of recording single identifications for perfume-related terms, we are compiling what we call a historical lexicon: a record of the different ways Egyptian, Greek and Latin perfumery terms have been interpreted over time. It is helping us to design experiments and serve as a record of how knowledge of perfumery moved across cultures in the ancient world.
Replicating Greco-Egyptian Perfume Recipes
Our goal is to replicate the practices of ancient perfume making rather than trying to reproduce the perfumes themselves. It is impossible to know ahead of time what the correct interpretation of a recipe will look or smell like (there may not even be a correct interpretation), so we can’t say if we’ve reproduced a historical perfume or not. We can, however, understand the chemistry behind the techniques they describe.
Studies of Greco-Egyptian Perfumery
We are building the results of our lexical and experimental work into new studies of perfumery in the ancient Mediterranean. We hold regular works-in-progress meetings, host guest lectures, and convene conferences and workshops on topics in the history of perfumery, alchemy, science, olfaction, and culture.
Teaching the History of Science, Craft, Scent and Culture
We regularly offer public workshops from our offices at Husova 7 in Old Town Prague. At these workshops, we introduce people to ancient Egyptian and Greek science, medicine and culture through hands-on experiences of ancient perfume making.