‘Scent Bottles: from Ceremony to Seduction’, the third in a series of exhibitions at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum in Mdina, will run until December 31.

Treasured as a rare and precious substance, scent has played a significant role in ritual and religion, myth and medicine, splendour and seduction for some 4,000 years.

This exhibition is showcasing the bottles created to contain the scents of the centuries, tracing their history from their early origins up to recent years.

Many civilisations in history have exhibited an interest in perfume.

Vessels for oils and essences have been carved out of various materials, fashioned into different shapes and sizes, adorned with precious metals and jewels and decorated with artistic techniques. The sheer variety in period, origin and design of the scent bottles on display at this exhibition demonstrate this.

Over 250 scent bottles have been brought together from Palazzo Falson’s permanent collection, as well as other museum and private collections.

Ancient Roman and Egyptian perfume vessels are displayed alongside Maltese Balsamini, chatelaine and handbag scent bottles, dressing table bottles for rose and lavender water, curiosities, souvenirs, and scent bottles that contain the essences of the great perfume and fashion houses of the 20th century.

The exhibition is open at Palazzo Falson, Mdina, Tuesdays to Sundays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The public is also invited to attend gallery talks held at the palazzo on December 2 and 13 at 2 p.m. by guest curator Joseph Galea Naudi and exhibition coordinator Lisa Attard.