Alright, you asked for it, so we are giving in. After amusing our olfactory wits in Asia, our globe-trotting senses series continues, and we are off to the massive and magnificent continent of Africa where we embark on a whirlwind of fragrant journey.
There is simply no way to describe the scent of this territory; because of its size, you can expect a variety of customs and cultures that are connected to unique characteristic smells. Even before setting foot in Africa, you can begin to imagine the scent of life and earth… of all beings thriving in between its facets of heat, land, dust, flowers, and animals. Raw, yet delicate, it has a distinctive smell that sticks not only to your memories, but to your skin. A box of unpleasant and pleasant – love it or hate it, Africa’s scent is sure to leave its mark.
Right around the Moroccan Souks
We begin our voyage in North Africa in picturesque Morocco where travelers get lost in the vibrant mazes of the souks in Marrakech. What a phenomenal journey for the eyes and the nose! The perfumed incense, the smell of freshly squeezed oranges, of aromatic mint, Arabic burners, and the salty scents of the ocean mingled with fragrant spices… your senses will surely go, ‘oh-boy!’ and we cannot blame you!
Life in Africa is certainly full of spice – and we literally mean it! From tangy flavors to sweets and everything else in between, a sniff alone is enough to make your stomach churn with hunger!
Perfume in Africa
One of the strongest elements in Africa’s culture, particularly in Senegal, is the Thiouraye. Streets and houses at every corner give off this soothingly warm smell since incense is traditionally used in African homes. Senegalese women also incorporate this in their perfume, & legend has it that it is set to hypnotize men! In case you didn’t already know, perfume originated in Egypt 6,000 years ago; for the longest time, Africa has been a great inspiration for perfumers and is home to various raw materials that have proven to be essential in perfumery and beauty – in fact, laboratories often incorporate native ingredients such as cocoa or shea butter in formulas. Let’s get to know some of the other exceptional materials unique to this bountiful continent.
Orange Blossom
The sour orange tree originated from China but grew immense popularity in Arab culture which spread all over the Mediterranean and into Spain upon importation. Eventually, bitter orange trees were cultivated in North Africa, particularly in Tunisia and Morocco where orange blossom is a symbol of celebration and is a culinary ingredient favorite. In perfumes, this raw material has a sweet, powdery scent that we all adore, and it is often present in perfume construction.
Madagascar Cloves
Known as the island of clove, Madagascar became the world’s leading exporter of cloves including essential oil by the 1990s. Today, clove production spans much of the country’s east coast, and provides significant income to farmers. These buttons that look like nails are dries a beautiful brown in the sun. Clove oil offers a warm, medicinal scent and is widely used in oriental perfumes.
Hyraceum
Also known as the “African Stone”, Hyraceum is an uncommon raw material of animal origin in perfumery. The essence is taken from fossilized manure of a rodent that basically looks like a large marmot. The stone has a strong and distinct leathery smell. Along with ambergris, it is one of the raw materials that has not been prohibited because extraction does no harm to the animal. However, because of its rarity the price tag is quite high.
There’s a lot to talk about like Africa’s frankincense, myrrh, and so much more but we can’t simply go on and on! One thing is for sure: Africa has an incredible wealth of aromatic raw materials in its vast lands, and because of its profusion in ritual, culture, and tradition worth thousands of years, there is no doubt at all that perfumery is a splendid way to express its quintessence and spirit. We hope you enjoyed our little stop in this gorgeous continent and tune in for our trip to South America coming right up!
