A fragrant Spiritual Heritage. Some Considerations on Perfumes in Islam

A passion for perfumes has been a constant throughout Islamic history. We can see it when we walk through the markets of the Middle East or the huge malls of the Gulf cities. Further evidence is provided by the recent opening of a museum, the ‘House of Perfumes’ (Bayt al-ʿuṭūr) in the historic centre of Dubai, in a traditional district known as al-Shindagha, facing Dubai Creek. This essay proposes a few considerations on the cultural importance of perfumes in Islamic society, from earliest times until today, beginning with the use of the words rīḥ, ṭīb and ʿiṭr in the foundational texts.