ABSTRACT
The Renaissance looms large in perfume history. Though its roots are global and ancient, perfume is often associated by historians with feminine power in the sixteenth century, particularly with Renaissance queens such as Catherine de Medici, Elizabeth I, Elisabeth de Valois, Queen Claude and Isabella d’Este. In this chapter, I explore the role of smell in court culture, juxtaposing it with famous accounts of royal perfume. The smell of royal bodies and the role it played in political performance demonstrates that, more than just a footnote in fashion history, perfume was an integral part of court culture.
