Alexandre Helwani Revives Ancient Scents from Homer's Odyssey and the Song of Songs
Alexandre Helwani, a Franco-Lebanese perfume historian born in Orléans, has dedicated himself to recreating historical fragrances. After studying theater, attending the Sorbonne, and apprenticing with oriental perfumers, he traveled extensively and met artisans, deepening his interest in scents. He explores ancient treatises, manuscripts, and archives to identify the odors of the past. Notably, he has recreated the perfume of Homer's Odyssey, using 44 plants mentioned in the epic, and a new fragrance from 22 plants of the garden in the Song of Songs, a 3,000-year-old biblical poem attributed to King Solomon. Helwani describes perfume as a door to the invisible, a symbolic language that connects past and present. His work was featured on the RFI podcast '100% Création' on August 2, 2026, in an episode titled 'Comment Alexandre Helwani recrée les odeurs du passé.'
Key facts
- Alexandre Helwani is a Franco-Lebanese perfume historian born in Orléans.
- He grew up between France and Dubai.
- He studied theater and attended the Sorbonne.
- He apprenticed with oriental perfumers.
- He recreates historical scents from ancient recipes.
- He recreated the perfume of the Odyssey using 44 plants.
- He created a new fragrance from 22 plants of the Song of Songs.
- The Song of Songs is a 3,000-year-old biblical poem attributed to King Solomon.
- His work was featured on RFI's '100% Création' podcast on August 2, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Alexandre Helwani
Institutions
- Sorbonne
- RFI
Locations
- Orléans
- France
- Dubai