Scent Culture in the Ottoman Empire
During the Ottoman period, special importance was given to beautiful scents.
Since nice scents directly affect a person's mood, they were used both in daily life and in hospitals. In the Ottoman Empire, scents are sometimes seen as a part of state policy. For example, rose water was sprinkled on the hands of ambassadors before they were accepted into the presence, and the oud ambergris that the sultan, the Grand Vizier and even the Grand Viziers applied before appearing in the Imperial Council.
Among the people, it has adorned some customs and traditions. In the Ottoman Empire, when you go to see a girl, you take the scent of lilies with you. The dowry chests of the girls who are going to get married are filled with scents such as carnation, rose, jasmine, geranium, etc.
Fragrance was a way of life for the Ottomans. Rose, musk and amber were the most commonly used scents in daily life. While people used these scents, spaces were never neglected. Incense burners, which have completely disappeared today, scented homes, mosques and madrasahs with the incense burned in them for centuries. Coffees were scented with amber; scented hookahs were smoked; musk, amber and camphor candles were manufactured. Scented inks, musk and flower water food and sherbet recipes were created; mental illnesses were treated with beautiful scents.
The most common scents used in daily life by the Ottomans were rose, musk and ambergris. While people used these scents, spaces were never neglected. Incense burners, which have completely disappeared today, scented homes, mosques and madrasahs with the incense burned in them for centuries.
In Ottoman tradition, ambergris, musk, sandalwood, oud and rose water would be procured from the Imperial Treasury by the chief lala to be prepared for the 15th day of Ramadan.
This scent, prepared with rituals, was presented to the sultan in the mosque he attended on the Night of Power.
The scenting of the Sacred Relics would be done in the following manner.
"After the morning prayer, 12 aghas would enter the door that opens to the section where all the sacred relics are located, by applying rose oil. These aghas had to be fasting and in a state of ablution, not having a cold, flu or illness. The aghas who entered would wipe all the walls of the private room and the cupboards and doors of the room where the footprints on the sacred relics, the Holy Mantle and the Beard of the Prophet were located, with this scent. According to the information in the archives, the scent of Asr-ı Saadet contains musk, amber, oud, sandalwood, rose oil and rose water."