The renaissance 1490-1600
During this period, queens and courtesans fought
over the secret formulas created by the first
Italian chemists and discovered fragrance ingredients
imported from Asia and America.
The Renaissance ushered in a new vision of the
world. Architects, engineers, artists and scholars
traveled all over Europe. Boosted by the influence
of powerful, wealthy patrons, the arts flourished.
The first treatises on chemistry were progressively
replacing alchemy and its recipes. Vasco de Gama,
Christopher Columbus, Magellan, all famous explorers
who brought back new raw materials from America
and India : cocoa, vanilla, Peru balsam, tobacco,
pepper, clove, cardamom ... At the Court, famous
courtesans and influential women competed against
one another with beauty secrets ... and poisons.
Leaving their native Spain and Italy (and the
Medicis family), foreign perfumers established
shop in Paris. Soon perfumed gloves were offered
for sale all over France.
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