Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, Aromatherapy, and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt
Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, Aromatherapy, and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, Aromatherapy, and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt OTHER ARTICLES The art of modern fragrance-making owes much to practices developed in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians attached great importance to perfumes and cosmetics, which men and women wore to make themselves attractive and alluring, to restore vitality and good health, and as a means of venerating the gods and of negotiating a passage to the realm of the hereafter. In this lavishly illustrated, oversized book, Lise Manniche looks at the role played by scents and cosmetics in ancient Egyptian society and discusses their preparation-in some cases providing actual recipes.Manniche details three categories of ingredients used by the Egyptians to make fragrances: plants, including cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, and mint gums and resins, particularly myrrh and frankincense and oils and fats ranging from almond oil to ox fat. In order [for a...