Final answer:
Aromatherapy is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, where extensive use of herbs and spices in practices such as mummification and hygiene indicate an early form of the practice. The Egyptians also influenced global trade through their demand for aromatic plants and oils.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aromatherapy is believed to have historical roots in various ancient civilizations. Notable among these is ancient Egypt, where the use of spices and herbs was quite advanced for their time. The Egyptians utilized herbs in mummification, and the Ebers papyrus highlights that they combined oils with alkaline salts to create a soap-like substance for bathing, indicating an early understanding of the benefits of aromatic compounds and plant extracts for cleanliness and health. This practice suggests that aromatherapy, as a form of utilizing aromatic materials for well-being, was already in use during ancient Egyptian times.
The spice trade also underscores the importance of aromatic plants and oils to the Egyptians. Their demand for exotic spices and herbs helped to spur the global trade, which connects to the broader history of medicine and cultural practices associated with aromatherapy. Hence, while the Greeks and Romans certainly had their own hygiene practices, and the Chinese had systems of medicine based on herbs, it is the Egyptians whose practices most closely resemble the early form of aromatherapy as we might recognize it today.