Three Thousand Years of Disinfection and Fragrance: From Opposition to Reunion
The story of disinfection and fragrance spans three millennia.
As early as 1500 BCE, ancient Egyptians used myrrh and frankincense to purify temples and preserve bodies. During the Black Death in medieval Europe, people burned lavender and rosemary to ward off disease. In ancient China, people hung mugwort and calamus during the Dragon Boat Festival, using scent to repel evil and purify the air.
Once, disinfection and fragrance were one and the same — but they were confined to temples and homes. You could not carry them with you.
Then in the 19th century, Joseph Lister discovered the antiseptic properties of carbolic acid, and modern disinfection was born. From that moment, disinfection and fragrance went their separate ways. Disinfectants became synonymous with harsh, cold chemicals — their only purpose to kill germs, with no regard for how they smelled. And they came in bulky, impractical bottles that stayed under the kitchen sink.
This opposition lasted for over a hundred years.The invention of benzalkonium chloride in the 20th century solved the problem of irritation, but the compatibility issue between sanitising and fragrance components remained an insurmountable industry barrier.
Until AURQUA.With our microcapsule technology, we have reunited disinfection and fragrance. And for the first time in history, we have put this perfect union in the palm of your hand.
We have proven that disinfectants can smell beautiful, that security and pleasure can coexist — and that you do not have to leave either at home.This is not just a product innovation. It is a homecoming three thousand years in the making.