Temple Rituals and Kyphi
Kyphi, a complex incense made with honey, raisins, wine, myrrh, frankincense, juniper, and herbs, was burned nightly in temple sanctuaries. Inscriptions at Edfu describe grinding ingredients on specified days and reciting spells during preparation—underscoring the fusion of perfumery and theology.
Priests also anointed deity statues with perfumed oils during the “opening of the mouth” ceremony, aligning fragrance with spiritual nourishment.
Mummification and Daily Life
Embalmers applied cedar, juniper, and balms to preserve bodies; canopic jars often retained traces of resins. Cosmetic palettes found in tombs contained perfumed creams, suggesting everyday grooming used the same aromatic materials as sacred rites.
Tomb paintings show banquet guests wearing perfumed cones of unguent that melted over the evening, scenting hair and skin. Letters from Deir el-Medina workshop scribes record wages paid in scented oils.
Trade Networks
Ships sailed from the Red Sea port of Mersa Gawasis to Punt, returning with resins, cinnamon, and exotic woods. Caravans brought blue lotus, saffron, and cardamom from the Levant and beyond. Perfume ingredients were catalogued alongside gold and ebony, demonstrating their economic importance.