The bell rose was the basic ingredient of Rhodinum italicum, a perfume that was very popular with the ancient Romans
We could almost almost consider Rhodinum Italicum a bit like our Chanel n ° 5.
In fact, it too was a perfume prestigious and widely appreciated, only it was in vogue many centuries ago and its production was more, shall we say, rudimentary.
Which is not even entirely true if we take into account the era in question, because the Romans were unparalleled master perfumers and also the method of processing the essences was, at that time, avant-garde ( see also: https://www.pilloledistoria.it/3128/storia-antica/antica-roma-oli-unguenti-profumi).
One of the most renowned areas for the production of perfumes was Campania.
In Pompeii and Herculaneum several shops have been found which testify to people's interest in perfumes and the importance they held for the local economy.
Of the Rhodinum Italicum also speaks Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia.
The writer states that " The rose is macerated in oil, and this already since the time of the Trojan War, as Homer attests. It is also used in perfumes. The rose species that have acquired the greatest fame here are the prenestina and the bell ”.
The Rhodinum Italicum it was, precisely, a perfume whose basic ingredient was bell rose.
The recipe to achieve it was quite elaborate and included a mix of natural ingredients certified by various sources.
Agresto, saffron oil, cinnabar, honey, flower of salt, fragrant rush, aromatic calamus and wine , combined with the petals of the queen of flowers, created a fragrance of great charm.
Thus was born Rhodinum Italicum , one of the most fashionable perfumes of ancient Rome ( Photo gives: ad-italia.it).