The Getty Villa Experience

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own perfume based

on how roman people made their perfume. Perfumes had many uses and meanings: they

could be holy, used in the worship of the gods or the burial of the dead; they could be a

symbol of status and superiority, used by athletes, aristocrats, politicians, and royalty;

they could be medicinal, used to relieve ailments of the lungs or skin. In ancient Egypt,

Greece, and across the Roman Empire, perfume was part of ritual, beauty, and commerce

much as it is today. In the age of Greece and Rome, the abundance of olive oil made it

the most popular oil for the perfume industry, though other oils such as almond were

popular as well. Cheaper oil was better (and still is) because it has less of its own scent to

compete with the fragrant materials. To impart fragrance, plant-based ingredients were

used, including flowers, leaves, seeds, woods, resins and gums. Animal-derived

ingredients were also common, such as musk and civet, which are the glandular oils

produced by the musk deer and the civet cat, as well as ambergris, a strange substance

secreted and occasionally expelled by sperm whales. These aromas tend to be pungent

and even unpleasant in their natural states, but act as fixatives in combination with other

scents, accentuating them and making them last longer without imparting their own

scents to the mixture.

After I seen all floors I found my way into the garden. I have never seen such a

beautiful garden. It had the longest water fountain with two ladies at the end of each

fountain. It was surrounded with so many different types of flowers and the sun was

shining directly to the water. Further into the path , it takes you to the statue of Venus ,

the goddess of all gods. There are envelops and pencils and whoever wishes to write a

wish to venus, has to offer her a token of gratitude. Even if your wish comes true you

need to give her something in return for her favor. Of course I had to request a wish so I

was specific on what I wanted and I am hoping now that it will come true. I will be

looking forward to visit The Getty Villa soon.