Egyptian Perfume from Naama Bay Holidays
Perfume was common in Ancient Egypt, where it was reserved almost exclusively for the nobility. Around 1000BC, the Egyptians developed the art of making glass from the abundant sand and one of the first uses of the new product was to make bottles to store their precious perfume in. Egypt became the world leader in perfume making, a title it has retained to the modern day. This is why many tourists on Naama Bay holidays, make sure they take home some authentic Egyptian perfume, which has no comparison with the mass produced shop bought ones of the western world.
Hieroglyphics in ancient tombs show what an important role perfume played in everyday Egyptian life. Documents from around the time of King Menes, around 3500 - 3000BC give perfume recipes to be used by the temple priests in their rituals. The Ancient Egyptians believed that perfume should accompany the soul when it ascended to the after-life and that is why perfume residues were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen when it was excavated. At first perfumes were not just used to scent the body but were rubbed on papyrus scrolls to save the document from insect attack. It was recorded too, that when Cleopatra first went to see Mark Anthony, her arrival was announced by the pungent perfume before her barge was even in sight.
Perfume was made from locally grown plants like Galbanum and frankincense and indigenous species like the white lily and lotus. In time, foreign plants were used as well like jasmine from India and narcissus. Plants were the first ingredients but the Ancient Egyptians then began to experiment with animal products such as musk. Documents from the time of Thutmose lll listed the common perfume ingredients as:- roots of orris, bitter almond oil, cardamons, balsam, oil of lilies, balanos oil, myrrh and cassia.
Today there are many perfume shops in Egypt, much frequented by those on Sharm El Sheikh holidays. One of the most famous is the Egyptian Perfume Palace at 9, Sphinx Street, Nazlet El Samman, Giza. They grow the flowers they make into perfume, themselves on a farm at Faiyoum about 90 km. from Cairo. They sell a very comprehensive range and specialise in Essential oils, Essence blends and Spices. There are a lot of perfume stalls and shops in the Khan Khalili Al Azerah area. Prices range from 30-60 Egyptian pounds for a tola (12ml) up to 300 EP for the strong 'oudh' wood oils. Authentic Egyptian perfumes are 100% natural oils and are not diluted down with alcohol. Consequently there are stronger and last for years and are popular souvenirs from Sharm El Sheikh holidays.
Blends available in Egypt today are based on original recipes that have been handed down in families, over the centuries. Tutankhamen Perfume is based on the perfume residue found in the royal tomb and is based on the natural essential oils of spikenard and frankincense, combined with pure virgin coconut oil. The blend is spicy and sweet with hints of wood and earth. Cleopatra's Perfume is based on her two favourite scents, Neroli and Rose and combined with myrrh and sandalwood. Metopion Perfume is a very ancient perfume and is the name of the plant from which Galbanum is obtained. This plant was reputed to have powerful restorative and medicinal properties. It has been used throughout the centuries to calm the mind and relax the muscles. There are many variations on the recipe but the main principal ingredients are always Galbanum, Cardamom and Myrrh.
Hieroglyphics in ancient tombs show what an important role perfume played in everyday Egyptian life. Documents from around the time of King Menes, around 3500 - 3000BC give perfume recipes to be used by the temple priests in their rituals. The Ancient Egyptians believed that perfume should accompany the soul when it ascended to the after-life and that is why perfume residues were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen when it was excavated. At first perfumes were not just used to scent the body but were rubbed on papyrus scrolls to save the document from insect attack. It was recorded too, that when Cleopatra first went to see Mark Anthony, her arrival was announced by the pungent perfume before her barge was even in sight.
Perfume was made from locally grown plants like Galbanum and frankincense and indigenous species like the white lily and lotus. In time, foreign plants were used as well like jasmine from India and narcissus. Plants were the first ingredients but the Ancient Egyptians then began to experiment with animal products such as musk. Documents from the time of Thutmose lll listed the common perfume ingredients as:- roots of orris, bitter almond oil, cardamons, balsam, oil of lilies, balanos oil, myrrh and cassia.
Today there are many perfume shops in Egypt, much frequented by those on Sharm El Sheikh holidays. One of the most famous is the Egyptian Perfume Palace at 9, Sphinx Street, Nazlet El Samman, Giza. They grow the flowers they make into perfume, themselves on a farm at Faiyoum about 90 km. from Cairo. They sell a very comprehensive range and specialise in Essential oils, Essence blends and Spices. There are a lot of perfume stalls and shops in the Khan Khalili Al Azerah area. Prices range from 30-60 Egyptian pounds for a tola (12ml) up to 300 EP for the strong 'oudh' wood oils. Authentic Egyptian perfumes are 100% natural oils and are not diluted down with alcohol. Consequently there are stronger and last for years and are popular souvenirs from Sharm El Sheikh holidays.
Blends available in Egypt today are based on original recipes that have been handed down in families, over the centuries. Tutankhamen Perfume is based on the perfume residue found in the royal tomb and is based on the natural essential oils of spikenard and frankincense, combined with pure virgin coconut oil. The blend is spicy and sweet with hints of wood and earth. Cleopatra's Perfume is based on her two favourite scents, Neroli and Rose and combined with myrrh and sandalwood. Metopion Perfume is a very ancient perfume and is the name of the plant from which Galbanum is obtained. This plant was reputed to have powerful restorative and medicinal properties. It has been used throughout the centuries to calm the mind and relax the muscles. There are many variations on the recipe but the main principal ingredients are always Galbanum, Cardamom and Myrrh.
