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 Rome
was the mightiest, most powerful and successful republic to
exist in the ancient world. Triumphant, magnificent and splendid
at first, it began to show signs of decay due to rampant corruption
and full-fledged imperialism. Rome dominated other Mediterranean
nations by modifying their culture and civilization to conform
to its own. Of all the conquered nations, only Egypt, Judea
and Greece were not subjected to its cruel despotism and offensive
sensual pleasures.
The main weakness of the Roman Empire
was its unlimited extension that expanded from Iberia to Scythia
and beyond. Its rapid growth from a small republic to a world
state led Rome to its imminent demise due to its inability
to control and properly administer its vast empire. At the
beginning, Rome’s domination was limited to Lactum. The early
Romans were agricultural soldiers.
They worked hard and lived simply,
the Roman family was a close-knit group held together by affection,
respect and the necessities of a frugal life which included
little time for primping. The use of fragrances and perfumes
was limited. The oldest perfume was obtained by soaking byrone
in olive oil. Things started to change gradually with the
arrival of the conquered oriental people who brought to Rome
their perverted lifestyles and voluptuousness.
The kind of disorderliness, immorality,
deterioration of customs that followed, started Rome’s perversion.
A number of perfumes from Asia and Greece began to arrive
in Rome under Julius Caesar, Neron and Heliogabale. The fragrances
created an incredible frenzy in Rome. With their lifestyles
in decline, the Romans began to use perfumes and fragrances
with excess and extravagance.
Neron himself burned more incenses
than Saudi Arabia could produce in an entire year. At parties,
guests were showered with poestum roses, a scent which was
greatly appreciated by the Roman society. Perfumes became
indispensable items of luxury. At all banquets, one could
easily find brule-parfums emitting scented vapors. Flowers
and scented waters were everywhere from marble floors, atriums
and spas, to beds and oily lamps. Rome had plenty of perfumers.
It was a lucrative business that attracted the entire society
including senators, mayors, and pretresses de Vesta.
To the perfumes extravaganza, one
must add beauty products such as creams, unguents, hair coloring
and cosmetic products. Beauty care for a wealthy Roman woman
became an artificial comedy to which clan of slaves was insufficient.
Shops that sold beauty products such as creams for pimples
and wrinkles, as well as special water designed to grow or
lengthen eyebrows and eyelashes were very popular with young
people.
The use of a facial mask, composed
of distinctive milk and honey was used at bedtime in order
to improve one’s complexion and make it radiate. This product
was heavily marketed throughout the empire. Also, in Athens,
one could find the same frenzy where well-known perfumers’
boutiques and spas became the perfect meeting places for opulence
and frivolous activities of a society whose abuses of intense
pleasures spoiled glory and grandeur. Mother of all countries
where essential materials came from, Rome could easily manufacture
all cosmetic and scented products which shared the citizens’
passion.
This exaggerated luxury, this weakness
of the body and soul prepared Rome for its downfall. The day
had come when Rome was completely ravaged by barbarians. While
destroying the many secrets, customs as well as splendors
and masterpieces were buried under its ruins. With it, an
entire civilization, the Roman Empire, disappeared.
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