The Victoria Napolitano Bookstore Mademoiselle 2019 VIctoria Napolitano | Page 20

Perfumed Writings: An Aromatic History
Since the Victorian era people’s senses have
been enchanted with perfumed writings. Com-
munications and messages of love, warm wish-
es and hope were often written on scented
stationary or with scented ink. These intimate
personal messages were often scented with
floral or incense aromas which evoked memo-
ries of Victorian drawing rooms scented with
sachets. Writing boxes were commonly found
with floral filled fragrant notions tucked inside
them to scent the papers. It was also during this
era that soldiers battling the Crimean War were
sent aromatic letters of encouragement from
home.

Pleasant fragrant notes were not only for sol-
diers, other scented sentiments were also found
in Valentines Day cards. This popular form of
perfumed love notes continue on into modern
day. On February 14, 1926 the New York Times
printed an article titled: St. Valentine’s Old Spell
Keeps Cupid at Work. The article pays tribute
to “wonderful creations those valentines ---
lacy, highly scented paper, adorned with plump
cupids”. The same article also describes the im-
portance of a love letter. The first step is de-
scribed: “Sam purchased a sheet of gilt-edged
letter paper and a hard nib pen, warranted not
to splutter and proceeded to set down the story
of his sentiments and emotions toward the fair
Mary”. Both men and women of this era wrote
love letters and it was something that warranted
special writing implements and stationary.
Writings, poems, spells and delicately inked cal-
ligraphy were also found in antiquity times to
be scented. These verses had certain elements
of the text highlighted in red ink. Red inks in
the 15th century were often produced by a
plant resin known as Dragon’s Blood. It has
very unique properties as well as exhibiting a
pleasant earthy perfumed aroma. The resin is
derived from various species of palm plants; it
is also the same resin used to make incense. The
Dragon’s Blood resin was often associated with
having medicinal qualities in ancient Greek, Ro-
man and Arab cultures. Metaphysical, spiritual,
and religious writings were written with appro-
priate herbal scented inks which enhanced the
intent as well as the meaning. Dragon’s Blood
ink was associated with power or strength. Me-
dieval folklore tells stories of treaties that were
deemed of great importance were only signed
with this special scented red ink.
Throughout history perfumed writings have
been used in various ways. Taking a look back
at some of these historical uses, the actual use
of the scent was meant as a special touch, an
added pleasant sensory experience. No matter
what the scent is, it gives people a good feeling,
as long as it is applied lightly. This is something
that these past cultures knew about. Today, psy-
chologists believe that scents are an integral
part of the sensory encoding. Published in Psy-
chology Today magazine is a small article titled:
Dollars and Scents. It relates information of
businesses utilizing scents in the consumer en-
vironment to increase sales. Businesses are just
now discovering this; they are now adding that
special touch.
Perfumed writings are something special and
thoughtful; it enhances the recipient’s experi-
ence. Scents have been applied in modern times
to stationary, diaries, journals, stickers and seals
for all kinds of holidays and celebrations. This
holiday, go ahead and send those aromatic wish-
es to family and friends such as scented ink, pa-
per, greeting cards or even a valentine.