AROMATHERARY HISTORY

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China
In China, there was little distinction between spices, drugs, incense and perfume. Substances that nurtured the mind were treated the same as those used for the body. The Chinese have said, "every perfume is a medicine." Marco Polo journeyed to China to convince the Orient to trade directly with Genoa and to
bypass the 300% markup the Moslem middlemen were imposing on them. Enormous quantities of spices were needed to disinfect cities against the plague and other maladies, the taxing had become an enormous amount. When Marco Polo arrived in China, it was a busy urban civilization with advanced sciences. He was quoted as saying Hangchou, China is "the greatest city in the world, where so many pleasures may be found that one fancies himself in Paradise.

Africa
In Africa, botanicals and oils were used for years primarily to soften skin and protect it from the searing effects of the hot African sun. Regarded as way ahead of "the times" by using those oils to prevent skin disorders from occurring. Oils were also commonly used in wedding ceremonies and other religious
ceremonies.

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