The very particular scent of Julius César was recomposed by scientists. A boon for all history enthusiasts.
Julius Caesar … For posterity, this name evokes a monarch to absolute authority, betrayed by his steps in his last moments. Since then, research has continued to document the smallest elements of its life, from its unlimited ambition to its uninhibited cruelty. And now, science is able to draw an even more complete portrait thanks to an eminently characteristic element: the smell.
This discovery, as surprising as it is, was made possible by the Turkish association for the culture and tourism of perfumes. Based on historical and archaeological research, carried out by the Archeology Department of the Turkish University of Cumhuriyet in Sivas, researchers tried to recompose the perfume of Julius Caesar.
We tend to forget it, but our ancestors also liked to be chubby to improve their physical condition and their appearance. The perfumes were also very widespread in Antiquity. “At the time of Caesar (…) Perfumes and cosmetics were extremely popular throughout the Mediterranean world of antiquity and represented enormous commercial potential”, explains the association in His press release.
Thanks to the advice of the associate professor Dr Cenker Atila, supporting Milanese perfumers and the talents of the famous designer of perfumes Bihter Türkan Ergül, the association gave birth to an unprecedented fragrance: “Telinum”. It is inspired by popular smells of the time, such as mint, rose, lemon, bergamot, lavender or even jasmine.
But beware, for high -ranking personalities, it was unthinkable to be satisfied with the scents worn by the poor. To stand out, “the senior executives, the generals, the priests and the rich” had “tailor-made” perfumes produced, composed by the greatest private perfumers of the time. This detail was taken into account in the composition of “Telinum” by the addition of “iris flowers and cistus”, which “kings in antiquity” loved.
To add to its complexity, “mint, rose, lemon, bergamot, lavender, jasmine, water lily, violet, cedar oudre and patchouli” were incorporated into the fragrance. This subtle mixture was put for sale in Turkey, France and Italy from October 2024. Without knowing it, you may have felt its emanations in your entourage!