Mesoamerican fragrances discussion held in El Salvador

The Embassy of Nicaragua in El Salvador participated in the “Fragrances of Mesoamerica” discussion held on September 29 at the National Museum of Anthropology in El Salvador. The event explored the historical and spiritual significance of aromas and customs that have shaped Mesoamerican identity since pre-Hispanic times.

Archaeologist Claudia Alfaro, an expert at the museum, explained that ancient Mesoamerican peoples viewed scents as sacred channels rather than mere decorations. She noted that aromatic smoke from incense and flowers was considered the ‘breath of the gods,’ used to transform environments during religious festivities.

The event included a guided olfactory tour featuring regional essences such as cacao, Salvadoran balsam, Nicaraguan tobacco, Honduran styrax (estoraque), allspice, and tuberose. The discussion highlighted how these traditional elements continue to serve as high-quality ingredients for the modern global perfumery industry.