Oils were burned to add a pleasant scent to a room, but also came in handy for keeping evil spirits away and conducting ceremonies. In this article, you will learn more about perfumes and burning oils.
Susinum
The blue lotus (also known as the blue water lily) is considered one of the most sacred of plants in ancient Egyptian days. Known for possessing aphrodisiac qualities, the scent is described as being exotic and floral. It has uplifting properties that are elevated when combined with cardamom, cinnamon, myrrh, saffron, and rose. This scent would have been something that an Egyptian queen would wear. Susinum was also made by combining lilies and myrrh with cinnamon in a base of balanos oil.
Mendesian
The perfumed scent of mendesian was quite popular during ancient Egyptian times. It was made with a combination of myrrh, cardamom, and cinnamon. The aroma was rich, warm and spicy. The Mendesian scent was named after the ancient city of Mendes. It was sometimes made with myrrh, cassia, as well as assorted gums and resins that had been steeped in oil.
Geranium
With more than 200 species of geranium – not all of them produce a scent that can be used as perfume. The plant originated in South Africa, Madagascar, Egypt and Morocco. In the 17th century, the plants had made their way to European countries such as Italy, Spain and France.
The leaves and pinkish white flowers of the geranium were used to make fragrant oil in Egypt known for its light, fresh and floral aroma. The oil of the perennial shrub was used to raise the spirits and relax the mind, but it also had medicinal properties, such as treat skin conditions, calm irritability, and ease insomnia. The strong scent of the oil was also used to keep mosquitoes away, as well as head lice. The plant was also positioned around homes for keeping away evil spirits.
Egyptian Burning Oils
The oldest method of releasing the scent of a fragrance was to add a few drops of the oil to a burner. Sometimes, fragrant materials were added to oils (or animal fats of the goose, ox, or swine). Fruit pastes were also made. For example, raisins were used to make kyphi – a fragrance quite popular in the temples.
Popular burning oils included frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh, and lotus. The aroma of frankincense was used to encourage concentration and to alleviate unwanted odors that lingered. Sandalwood burning oil was sweet and woody with an aroma that created warm surroundings. You can pair sandalwood oil with lotus oil to enjoy a relaxing and uplifting fragrance.
To add a fresh, warm scent to a room, a combination of myrrh and frankincense was used. The fresh, clean scent of cedar added a touch of woods to a room, as well as removed unwanted aromas. Lotus perfume oil was closely associated with the god Nefertum and when burned, brought a sweet, light floral scent to a room.
