The perfume, which Dioscorides called ‘Metopion', was derived from the fragrance called metopion in Egypt. However, this perfume contains bitter almonds, the oil of too many unripe olives, cardamom, thistle, honey, wine, myrrh, the fruit of Mecca balm, the resin of rye grass and pine resin. The predominance of the smell of cardamom and myrrh in perfume, made under the intense pressure of fragrance and oil, is noted by Dioscorides in his work.
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