By 1400, Venice had emerged as a hub for the perfume trade, with professional perfumers establishing themselves in the city. The flourishing commerce of the Mediterranean facilitated the exchange of exotic ingredients, leading to the production of unique fragrances. This development not only shaped the culture of scent in Europe but also reflected the broader trends of trade and luxury during the Renaissance.

The emergence of professional perfumers in Venice around 1400 inspired Renaissance sonnets and travel literature rich in descriptions of oriental scents. Poets like Petrarch and Boccaccio captured the allure of perfume, using it as a metaphor for beauty and desire in their lyrical compositions.