Chemists have determined the composition of ancient Roman perfumes.

They are over 2000 years old. The chemists discovered that the content was based on vegetable oil, possibly made from olives. It also had the scent of patchouli, a plant that was not previously known to have been used during Roman times. The monumental characteristics of the tomb in which the vessel was found, and the material from which it was made, suggest that it was a very valuable product.