A forgotten recipe written by the 17th-century Dutch poet, musician and scholar ‘Constantijn Huygens’ has allowed researchers to bring a centuries-old fragrance back to life. The scent, which Huygens may have created to preserve the memory of his mother after her death, offers a unique personal glimpse into the life of a man better known for his public achievements. According to Leiden University, researchers from the Young Academy and Huygens ING/NL Lab recreated the perfume using a recipe preserved in Huygens' collection of household and fragrance formulas. The result was not simply a pleasant historical curiosity. By reconstructing the scent, the team explored how smell can connect people with memory, emotion and the past. What emerged was a floral yet spicy fragrance containing ingredients that still evoke a sense of warmth and familiarity today, centuries after Huygens first recorded the recipe.
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