Why is perfume closely linked to Valentine's Day?

Every February 14, lovers around the world celebrate Valentine's Day! This very special day is placed under the sign of romance. Candlelight dinner, declaration of love and gifts are on the agenda. But where do these traditions come from and how is perfume an integral part of this celebration?

What are the origins of Valentine's Day?

The origin of Valentine's Day dates back to ancient Rome where the month of February was already considered the month of romance. From February 13 to 15, the annual festivals celebrated by the people of the Luperques, the Lupercalia, took place in honor of the god Faunus linked to agriculture and fertility. The priests then sacrificed a goat and a dog in the cave where a she-wolf took under her wing the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. During the ceremony, the women were beaten gently with the skin of the goat to make them more fertile. In addition, the young women placed their name in a large urn so that the single men each chose a name. These "couples" were bound together for at least a year, but these relationships often ended in marriage. Valentine's Day was therefore originally a pagan festival, then Christianized by Pope Gelasius who decided to celebrate the saint every February 14 from the XNUMXth century.

In the Middle Ages, this date marked the beginning of the mating season for birds. This then reinforced the romantic aspect of this day. Nevertheless, it is only from the 1700th century that the first occurrences of Valentine's Day exist. However, the feast of love really began to be celebrated in the XNUMXth century. In the mid-XNUMXs, it was common for lovers or friends to exchange handwritten letters to demonstrate their affection, replaced by printed cards in the mid-XNUMXth century. It was only later that gifts, including flowers, chocolates, jewelry and even perfume, became essential for Valentine's Day!

Why Valentine?

 The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentin or Valentinus:

• Valentine of Rome
• Valentine of Terni
• Valentine of Raetia

According to legend, Valentine of Rome was a priest from the XNUMXrd century. At that time, Emperor Claudius II proscribed marriage for young men because according to him, single men were better soldiers than married men. The priest Valentin did not fail to defy the emperor by opposing his decree and marrying young lovers in secret. Unfortunately, Claudius eventually found out and ordered the priest killed.

According to another legend, Valentine would have succeeded in "changing the heart" of Claudius II thanks to his words. The priest was then arrested and placed in the custody of a magistrate. However, he restored his daughter's sight and converted the whole family to Christianity. Mad with rage, Claudius ordered him to be beheaded.

Some give similar stories to Valentin de Terni. It would actually seem that these two Valentines are one and the same person. Pope Alexander VI, likely moved by these stories, ordered him to officially become the "Patron of Lovers" in 1496. 

As for Valentin de Raétie, he is the patron saint of the Valentinian Christians who defended the "good" pagans and refused to use force and terror to convert them to Christianity. 

Why do we give perfume on Valentine's Day?

If the gifts offered on Valentine's Day are multiple and often personalized, there are safe bets such as flowers, chocolates and of course, perfume. These gifts are considered particularly romantic. But what is the symbolism of perfume really?

It's an emotional gift simply because smells, emotions, and sexual attraction are all processed in the same region of the brain, the limbic system, known as the "emotional brain." Perfume therefore has the ability to change a person's mood, evoke memories, create a unique atmosphere and even make you fall in love! It is also linked to pheromones, chemicals that would allow members of the same species to communicate with each other. These "smells" would be at the origin of instinctive reactions such as sexual attraction and even love! Since we don't all like the same perfumes, we don't fall in love with the same person.

A perfume is something personal that often reminds us of a loved one. When we offer it to someone, we take the time to choose it carefully. Likewise, when a person wears it, he thinks of the person who gave it to him. Perfume is also a luxurious product, which makes it special.

On the fragrance side, an oriental fragrance evokes sensuality while a floral scent is particularly romantic. Flowers, especially the rose, are indeed the symbol of love. If they will always please in bouquet, their scent will be particularly appreciated as notes full of freshness in a precious juice.