Sixteenth-century perfumed gloves were typically scented with a combination of florals like rose and orange blossom, aromatic herbs, and warm spices, alongside animal-derived materials such as musk, civet, and ambergris, which were highly prized at the time for their rich, long-lasting, warm character.

The typical aromatic profile of the era

  • Rose and orange blossom, valued for their classic, elegant floral character
  • Musk and civet, prized animal-derived materials that added warmth and longevity, similar to the reasoning discussed in our related answer on whether civet is still used in perfume today
  • Ambergris, a rare and highly valuable material sourced from sperm whales
  • Warm spices like clove and cinnamon, adding richness and depth
  • Herbal notes such as lavender and rosemary, common in period perfumery more broadly

These materials were worked into the leather during preparation, sometimes soaked in scented oils or dusted with fragrant powders, so the scent would linger through repeated wear, which was exactly the point given the trend explained in our related answer on why Elizabeth I wore perfumed gloves. Our history of perfume guide covers this period and its typical materials in depth, and the complete guide to perfume has the wider historical context. Many of these same materials, in far more refined synthetic or natural forms, still show up in fine fragrance today, centuries after they first scented a pair of gloves.