Pumpkin

Pumpkin first entered human culture as a staple food in ancient Mesoamerica, where it supported large settlements for millennia. Archaeologists uncovered pumpkin seeds in burial sites dating to 700 BCE, indicating its valued status. Early societies roasted the flesh and burned the seeds in ceremonial fires, releasing a scent that marked seasonal rites. When Spanish explorers carried pumpkin northward in the 16th century, the fruit reached Europe and later Asia, where it appeared in culinary and medicinal texts. The first recorded use of pumpkin aroma in a perfume dates to 1923, when a French atelier blended a tiny amount of pumpkin seed oil with amber and spice to create a festive winter scent. Interest surged in the 2010s as niche houses sought earthy, seasonal notes, and they began experimenting with CO2 extracts and synthetic accords to capture the fruit’s comforting profile. Today, pumpkin sits alongside classic ingredients like sandalwood and vanilla, offering a modern nod to its ancient roots.