By the time we reach ancient Greece and Rome, fragrance had evolved into both a spiritual tool and a symbol of luxury. The Greeks believed scents could enhance both the mind and the soul. They used them during symposiums (ritual-like banquets), funerals, and festivals honoring the gods.

The Romans took it even further. According to the historian Pliny the Elder, Romans burned exotic incense from Arabia during lavish feasts and even perfumed their public fountains (National Geographic). For them, scent wasn’t just spiritual—it was theatrical, indulgent, and political. Wearing perfume signaled status, sophistication, and sometimes, even moral character.

Religions across the globe have long recognized the power of scent to bridge the physical and spiritual realms.

In Christianity, frankincense and myrrh are famously part of the gifts brought to Jesus at birth, and incense is still used in Catholic and Orthodox ceremonies to purify spaces and symbolize prayers rising to heaven.

In Islam, fragrances like oud and rose water are used for personal purification and in religious festivals. While incense is not part of formal prayer, it is frequently used to create a respectful and serene atmosphere during religious and familial gatherings.

Buddhist and Taoist ceremonies in East Asia involve lighting incense sticks to honor ancestors and deities. The act of offering incense represents mindfulness and reverence, with each scent chosen for its symbolic meaning.

Across faiths, the use of scent creates a multi-sensory environment that enhances the experience of the sacred, inviting deeper reflection and emotional resonance.

Outside of formal religion, scent also holds powerful significance in secular celebrations and rites of passage.

Weddings, for example, often feature flowers not just for their visual beauty but for their aromatic symbolism. In ancient Persia, brides and grooms were showered with rose petals, symbolizing love and prosperity. Today, signature wedding scents—through floral arrangements, scented candles, or even fragrance bars—create memorable and personalized experiences for guests.

In birth and naming ceremonies, herbs and resins like lavender, rosemary, and sage are used in different cultures to bless the newborn and cleanse the space. These scents are chosen not only for tradition but for their calming, nurturing properties.

Funerals, too, often incorporate scent to evoke comfort or honor the deceased. In Victorian England, mourning perfumes were used to provide solace and mask the scents of death—a practice rooted in both emotional and practical concerns (The New Yorker).

In our fast-paced, screen-heavy world, scent is making a comeback—not just in traditional rituals, but in modern ceremonies and celebrations that blend the old with the new.

From yoga studios diffusing calming essential oils to immersive art installations using scent to evoke emotion, people are increasingly turning to fragrance to make experiences more meaningful and memorable.

At Scentex, we help bring this ancient tradition into the present by curating custom scent experiences for events—whether that’s creating a signature scent for a product launch or designing a fragrance bar for a gala. The goal is the same as it’s always been: to make people feel something they’ll never forget.

Why does scent play such a powerful role in rituals and celebrations? The answer lies in neuroscience.

Of all the senses, smell is the only one directly linked to the limbic system, the part of the brain that governs memory and emotion (Harvard Gazette). That’s why a single whiff of jasmine can bring you back to your cousin’s wedding, or the smell of cinnamon might remind you of your grandmother’s kitchen.

By engaging the sense of smell, we engage the heart and the mind, making every celebration more emotionally resonant—and more likely to be remembered.

Though often overlooked, scent is the invisible guest at nearly every celebration. It grounds us in the present, connects us to the past, and leaves a lingering imprint long after the moment is gone.

So next time you light a candle, walk past a field of lavender, or catch a waft of perfume at a party—take a moment. You might just be participating in a ritual thousands of years in the making.

At Scentex, we’re honored to help you continue this aromatic tradition, one unforgettable event at a time.