Scientists Recreate Cleopatra's Favorite Perfume

[Warpy]

3. One thing to remember is that the ancient world REEKED

The dominant stink was ammonia from animal waste, with an overlay of decomposition of food waste, smoke from fires, the rank odor of dye shops and fulleries, and all the other assorted stenches they took for granted. A sweet perfume of rose petals was just not going to cut through all that.

Roman perfumes were said to be very heavy on the fresh basil, for instance, along with pine and other ingredients.

I doubt if Cleopatra's formula would be particularly sought after in most of the modern world.