People wore tiny perfume holders around their necks to survive bad city smells.

The past probably didn’t smell as bad as we tend to think, but there are certainly exceptions. European cities, for example, tended to be quite, shall we say, fragrant in the Middle Ages. To combat this, as well as the prevailing belief at the time that disease was mainly spread via foul, toxic air, many people wore perfume holders around their necks. In addition to making for a more pleasant experience when walking the streets, this was also considered a medical defense mechanism. (Science has come a long way in the last couple of centuries.)

Known as a pomander, which is derived from the French term pomme d’ambre, meaning “apple of amber,” it was worn like a necklace and contained fragrant herbs and/or flowers — an early form of aromatherapy, you might say. House of the Dragon fans will recognize the practical accessory, as season 3 antagonist Ormund Hightower frequently made use of one to combat the foul odors of Westeros. 

Pomanders fell out of fashion in the 17th century, when advances in medical knowledge made it clear that they weren’t doing much of anything to prevent disease. Because what’s old is often new again, however, similar perfume pendants have made a return as a chic fashion statement.