geography of perfume portfolio

8/10/2019 Geography of Perfume Portfolio

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The Geography Of Perfume

Neha Shetty 0658899


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Why did I choose perfume as my geographical theme?

I chose perfume as my geographical theme because it is something I personally have

always enjoyed using. I was aware that there are different uses for this product in

various countries around the world.

What I did not know is the specific method of how perfume is made, its historic

origins, and the reasons behind why it is so expensive in todays world.

My portfolio is filled with resources to answer these questions and many more. It is

a fantastic theme that can be linked to physical, cultural, economic, and social

aspects of geography. This is an important theme because it allows students to see

how everyday products that are around them have so many links to geography.

Through learning the geography of perfume students will learn to think more

geographically about various other products that they use on a daily basis. This

theme will create a geographically stimulated and curious mindset for students to


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carry into their lives outside of the classroom.

Introductional videos to the geography of perfume

History of Perfume

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orwn2BCKaZ8

This is a fantastic video that showcases a visual time line of the history of perfume.Starting from the historical origins at 3500 BC in Ancient Egypt up until theeconomic impact of the perfume industry in 2013. This video would be a beneficialresource for students to see the journey of perfume through a short (1:32) length,well made film. It is ideal introduction to get students intrigued about thegeographic theme of perfume.

Luxury Perfume More Expensive Than Gold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uECPWsNuZ_A

This video can be used as an introductory video as well. It is longer in length (5:26),but is thorough with live visual aid. It presents the history of perfumery and paysspecial attention to the influence of perfume in the Middle East, where it is stillwidely incorporated into culture. The video does a wonderful job of introducing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orwn2BCKaZ8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orwn2BCKaZ8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uECPWsNuZ_Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uECPWsNuZ_Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uECPWsNuZ_Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orwn2BCKaZ8


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students to the use of Oud withinthe perfume making process. The resource onthe Agarwood tree, within this portfolio, will provide greater detail on how Oud isproduced, what it is, and the importance of it to the geography of perfume.

Physical Geography of Perfume

The History of Perfume is as old as the human being exists.

http://www.everythinkaboutperfume.com/history.html

This website provides an interesting read about where perfume originated from and

how it spread to different countries through various historical periods and empires.

It carries the reader through the uses of perfume by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans,

and Arabs. The article then showcases the significance of perfume during the middle

Ages, the Enlightenment era, the 20th

century, and finally the perfume industry inour modern era. This is a great resource for students to be able to read, in

interesting details, about how the use of perfume differed from place to place, but

still became a part of peoples daily life, just as it is now. It presents information on

how many people worked in the perfume industry at different times throughout

history, which individuals were allowed to wear perfume in the past, and the

reasons for why there is a sense of elite divinity associated with perfume.

Assignment/Activity: This article could be given to students to read, as it is not

too lengthy but very informative and interesting. After reading it students could break

into groups and create a visual time line of where perfume originated, the places it

spread to at certain time periods, and how it was used at that time. The teacher could

then ask students to discuss which time period and country interested them most on
http://www.everythinkaboutperfume.com/history.htmlhttp://www.everythinkaboutperfume.com/history.html


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their time line, and a small writing assignment explaining their choice could be

assigned as homework.

Archaeological dig sniffs out worlds oldest perfumery

http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/archaeological-dig-sniffs-out-world-s-oldest-perfumery-1-737387

This article describes an archaeological excavation of the oldest discovered

perfumery found in Cyprus. It describes how the ingredients discovered there date

back to 2000 BC and how economically the natural ingredients needed to create

perfume in that time were of great scarcity at one point. This had so much of an

impact that the Pharaoh of Egypt, Ramses III, exercised great control over the

production of perfume at that time. This is an important and helpful resource for

teachers to use because it presents the present with the past. Archaeological digs

provide us with great information about the ways of life of those who came before

us, all over the world. It is important for students to understand that the history of

cultures that came before us have molded our present day culture to be what it is.

This earth is our home, and has been throughout history. What lies within the soil is

a glance into what came before us, and this should always be treated with respect as

world citizens.

Activity: The article lists spices and plants that were discovered in the

perfumery, such as, cinnamon, laurel, myrtle, anise, and citrus bergamot. Though some

of these ingredients may be difficult to find, many of them are readily available and it

would be beneficial to get students to smell them. These smells are the chance to create

an environment of the past within the classroom. It would be hard for the class to go to
http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/archaeological-dig-sniffs-out-world-s-oldest-perfumery-1-737387http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/archaeological-dig-sniffs-out-world-s-oldest-perfumery-1-737387http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/archaeological-dig-sniffs-out-world-s-oldest-perfumery-1-737387http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/archaeological-dig-sniffs-out-world-s-oldest-perfumery-1-737387http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/archaeological-dig-sniffs-out-world-s-oldest-perfumery-1-737387


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Cyprus and see the perfumery, but the teacher and students can transform the

classroom into the perfumery through this experiential activity. Students could then

compare their thoughts on the smells and the reading, in small groups. A large class

discussion can follow from this activity with ideas of what they might use from their

own natural surroundings to create their own perfumes.

How to make your own perfume

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Perfume

This resource provides 5 techniques to make your own perfume. There are options

that are classroom friendly, using soap, ethanol, and natural ingredients, it would be

a fun and interactive activity for the teacher to incorporate into the geography of

perfume lesson theme. It incorporates using what is natural around us to create

something that has been utilized and of great importance to human beings

throughout history. Going outside into nature and using our own hands to create

something that we are learning about is a beneficial method to understand the

entire process of making perfume. It also engages students with nature and physical

geography outside of the classroom.

Activity: Take students outside, on the school grounds, to pick flowers, plants, or

bring whole spices like cardamom and cinnamon from home. Students will bring

ingredients that they think smell nice, and then in class, or the chemistry lab, using the

resource on how to make perfume, students can begin to prep their ingredients and

create their own perfume. Students can be provided with the resource below to assist

in their gathering of ingredients.

Graph Of Scents

http://www.eliteproducts8.biz/attachments/CropImages/cfa980c14a551fd3427dea9dfd16bb6b.jpeg
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Perfumehttp://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Perfume


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Cultural Geography of Perfume

Perfume Crusaders- and the Renaissance: Perfume Society

http://perfumesociety.org/discover-perfume/history/perfume-crusaders-and-the-renaissance/

This article is an informative resource to understand how each society provided

different aspects of the uses of perfume. From the Arabs coming up with ways to

capture fragrance and creating glass perfume bottles (which the resource on

Egyptian glass blowing will display), to the Chinese using smoke within their

spiritual customs. The original use of perfumery comes from the Latin word per

fumus which means through smoke. Beginning from the burning of wood for the

release of smoke, and leading to the extraction of oils from wood to create perfume

that can be applied to the skin, it is important for students to understand how these

raw materials, used in different forms, all connect to what perfume is and

represents now.

Assignment/Activity: This article covers 7 groups who influenced what perfume

was used for and is still used for today. The class could be split into 7 groups each

covering one part of the article. They could make points of interest from their part of

the article and then come up in front of the class to present their part of the article to

the rest of the students. A general class discussion could take place after this to
http://perfumesociety.org/discover-perfume/history/perfume-crusaders-and-the-renaissance/http://perfumesociety.org/discover-perfume/history/perfume-crusaders-and-the-renaissance/http://perfumesociety.org/discover-perfume/history/perfume-crusaders-and-the-renaissance/http://perfumesociety.org/discover-perfume/history/perfume-crusaders-and-the-renaissance/


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compare how the aspects in the article still apply to modern uses of perfume. This is an

important way of relating concepts in the article to their daily life around them.

The Ancient Perfume and Incense Routehttp://www.wysinfo.com/Perfume/Perfume_route.htm#The%20Ancient%20Perfume%20Industry

This resource could fit under the category of physical Geography as well as cultural

because it does provide very helpful maps of the historic trade routes of perfume.

The resource is rich in information about how perfumes were transported for trade,

which spices were used for particular perfumes and where those spices came from.The resource can be helpful for a teacher to create a lesson plan on the cultivation of

ingredients for making perfume, the process of creating it, and the individuals who

used it at those times. It also touches on the economic impact of the trade routes and

is a very useful breakdown of all aspects of the Geography of Perfume concisely

presented on one web page.

Assignment: Students can be given the website by the teacher and class time

can be provided for students to explore the information presented within the site.

Students should then pick their favorite perfume, or a perfume they have seen

advertised on television and they will conduct a mini research project on this perfume.

They will need to find out whether the perfume was made in Canada, and if not then

where was it made? What are the key ingredients in it, and where are those

ingredients originally found? This will allow students to get closer to the geography of
http://www.wysinfo.com/Perfume/Perfume_route.htm#The%20Ancient%20Perfume%20Industryhttp://www.wysinfo.com/Perfume/Perfume_route.htm#The%20Ancient%20Perfume%20Industryhttp://www.wysinfo.com/Perfume/Perfume_route.htm#The%20Ancient%20Perfume%20Industryhttp://www.wysinfo.com/Perfume/Perfume_route.htm#The%20Ancient%20Perfume%20Industry


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the product and understand the process it takes with ingredients and labor from many

different parts of the world to create the final product that they have the luxury of

using, a luxury of very ancient times.

Economic Geography of Perfume

Miracles of Oud Agarwoodhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v27vMKN-r5Y

This (5:43 length) video is the perfect resource for students to understand the

importance of the Agarwood tree in the process and history of perfume making. The

Agarwood tree is grown in few physical geographical locations, and is an extremely

labor intensive tree to grow. The fungal infection of the tree and extraction of that

infected wood is what provides the unique and brilliant smell of the wood that is

eventually burnt. The video takes the viewer through the process of growing the

tree till the stage of extracting the extremely expensive oil essence, which is called

Oud. Oud is used in various cultures for religious ceremonies, cosmetics, and

modern day perfume. It comes at a very high cost, as it is something that ripens with

age. The fact that the older Oud oils that are over 100 years old are finite makes

them that much more expensive, and this is an important fact to understanding why

some perfumes are so expensive in our society today as well. This ties into the price

based on ingredients and labor. The next resource will provide more information on

the prices of Oud.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v27vMKN-r5Yhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v27vMKN-r5Yhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v27vMKN-r5Y


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Activity: The teacher could get the students to guess how much some Oud oils

may cost, and then after viewing the video a class discussion could take place on why

the price is as high as it is for this product (the labor that has gone into growing the

Agarwood Tree, selling the wood to foreign countries, and the production of perfume

through the extraction of the rare Oud Oil).

Agarwood or call it Oudh- Raw Materialshttp://www.fragrantica.com/news/Agarwood-or-call-it-Oudh--2500.html

This article provides information about the process of extracting Oud oil from the

infected Agarwood tree. It is a good substitute for the video above on the Agarwood

plantation if a teacher would prefer to provide students with something to read

about this method instead of watching a video. The article explains the reasons why

Oud oil is so costly taking the reader through the aging process of the oil itself and

how that affects its economic value. Two point two pounds of Oud oil may cost $225

where as after 20 years that same oil would cost $1500. The economic value

associated with Oud oil and its aging process is something students should be aware

of with regards to the geography of perfume. It also has an impact on the trade,

production, and market value of Oud being sent from Southeast Asian countries to

the highest Oud demanding countries located in the Gulf.

Activity: Get students to break into groups and compare the difference in priceaccording to Oud that comes from trees grown in different countries, outlined in the

article. Groups can then present their findings to the class. This will give students

insight into the specific economic differences between regions and their quality of

products in trade.
http://www.fragrantica.com/news/Agarwood-or-call-it-Oudh--2500.htmlhttp://www.fragrantica.com/news/Agarwood-or-call-it-Oudh--2500.html


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For a Coveted Resin, the Scent of Rarity Takes Holdhttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/world/middleeast/28iht-M28C-PERFUME.html?_r=0

This article is a great resource to present to students for them to understand the

impact of cutting trees, especially when it comes to the perfume market. It is not a

link you would normally associate but it is of utmost importance to the economy of

the perfume industry. The article takes the reader through what has been happeningto the Agarwood trees in a number of countries. It has effect on the market price of

the trade of this wood, the impact on the perfume industry, and the raise of market

value for Oud oil as a result. All of these are important economic factors to

understanding how all the themes of Geography link with one another to affect our

entire world.

Assignment/Activity: The teacher can get the students to read the article

individually and then for homework half the class can cover the natural impact of

cutting trees that is outlined in the article, and the other half will cover the economic

impact as a result of this. The next day students will pair up with one another from

each side of the class and they will swap their points from the article on their assigned

article topic. The class can then break into small groups and talk about the overall

cultural impact that both the economic and natural issues surrounding the Agarwood

tree have presented for cultures who so strongly depend on Oud for their daily life. This

is an important activity for students to understand how people must adapt to

globalization of local products like the Agarwood tree, Oud oil, and any other
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/world/middleeast/28iht-M28C-PERFUME.html?_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/world/middleeast/28iht-M28C-PERFUME.html?_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/world/middleeast/28iht-M28C-PERFUME.html?_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/world/middleeast/28iht-M28C-PERFUME.html?_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/world/middleeast/28iht-M28C-PERFUME.html?_r=0


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resources used in their daily lives. Cultures are constantly adapting to these

Geographical influences.

Social Geography of Perfume

The History of Egyptian Perfume Bottleshttp://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=db0y

The benefit of this resource is that it gives students an understanding of how history

shapes current social customs and practices. The glass blowing of Egypt is world-

renowned. The beautiful glass perfume bottles that come from this country are

embedded deep in history and this article provides how this custom came into

practice and the impact it has had on perfume up to our modern times. This is a

great resource because students can relate to it. Most of the perfumes we buy now

come in a glass bottle, there are reasons for that, and history behind its origins and

purpose.

Assignment/Activity: After presenting this short article to students, have a class

discussion about their thoughts on this ancient custom and get them to reflect on their

own surroundings. Ask students to think about if they can think of anything that they

use in their daily life that may have a link to Geography the way glass perfume bottles
http://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=db0yhttp://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=db0yhttp://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=db0yhttp://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=db0yhttp://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=db0y


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do. They may think of things such as beds, or mirrors, and this will spark an interest to

look at the geography behind these objects. The teacher can then plan a class unit

where students choose their own favorite theme of Geography and do a small research

project on it, which can then be presented to the class, so the entire group learns from

one another. The assignment is much alike to this portfolio, but with more emphasis on

class presentation.

How To Make Glass Perfume Bottleshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGz88-mo_54

This is a wonderful visual resource to accompany the above resource on Egyptian

perfume bottle making. The video is only 1:45 seconds in length and will allow for

students to have an understanding of the craftsmanship that goes into the

production of these bottles. There is also a historic connection to be made with this

craftsmanship, which has been carried to modern day from ancient times.

Activity: This video could be presented to students to lead them into thinking

about the craftsmanship that goes into hand made products, such as pottery and

woodworking. Students can think about how these methods of craftsmanship started

and the importance of things being done by hand as opposed to being produced by

factories. An assignment on the impacts of industrialization and the loss of hand made

quality products would be beneficial for students. They could link back to the other
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGz88-mo_54https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGz88-mo_54


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resources about the scarcity of Oud oil and its impacts on the market, production, and

cultural use of perfume all over the world.


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geography of perfume portfolio

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