While scented waters were common even in Ancient times, the first true perfume extract in the modern sense was not created until the 10th Century A.D., when Avicenna, first discovered the process of distilling oil from the petals of roses. This essence, diluted with water, became rose water, the first modern perfume.

Since then every period in European history has had its own signature scents, and a number of the most popular ones continue to be used today.