Simply Ask Aromatherapy
Simply Ask Aromatherapy
History of Essential Oils - Egypt
History of Essential Oils - Egypt
It appears that the ancient Egyptians were the first to recognize the therapeutic potential of essential oils. Early Egyptian papyrus manuscripts found in the temple of Edfu, in the Valley of the Kings, show aromatic substances formulated by the priests, to be used in religious ceremonies, to make perfumes, and for use in medicines. These records date back as far as 4500 BC.
It appears that the ancient Egyptians were the first to recognize the therapeutic potential of essential oils. Early Egyptian papyrus manuscripts found in the temple of Edfu, in the Valley of the Kings, show aromatic substances formulated by the priests, to be used in religious ceremonies, to make perfumes, and for use in medicines. These records date back as far as 4500 BC.
The Ebers Papyrus
The Ebers Papyrus
Although it was thought that most essential oils were produced in Egypt by means of a type of enfleurage extraction method, the Egyptians in actual fact did have access to the distillation method via the Mesopotamians as distillation pots have been found at Tepe Gawra dating back about 3,500 BC. This allowed for the crude extraction of cedarwood oil. It is also thought by some that Persia and India may have also invented crude distillation machines, but very little is known.
When the Egyptian tombs were opened in the early 20th century, traces of the herbs were discovered with intact portions of the body. The scent, although faint, was still apparent. Although the cedarwood the Egyptians used was distilled by a crude distillation process, the other oils the Egyptians used were most likely infused oils.
For example traces of oils were found in the tomb of the King Menes founder and ruler of the city of Memphis in 3,000 BC.
The ancient Egyptians believed that the sense of smell and ability to detect odors was the most important of our sensory abilities. They considered the sense of smell far more important than sight or even the ability to think. That was because they knew the importance of odors to increase our intrinsic "frequency" and transform us. The utchat pendant found on the mummy of Tutankhamen depicts the alchemy of spiritual nourishment both in the afterlife and in the created world. The most energy absorption available to the human is assigned to the nose. 1/2 heqat = Energy of Smell (symbolized by the right part of eye that points toward the nose). Smell, then, represents the subtlest sense of odor and intuition, which was the soul-centered "Intelligence of the Heart" to the Egyptians. Without this higher nourishment, our spirit starves, becomes weak, and eventually dies.
The Eye of Ra In the 1870's, George Ebers found and translated a papyrus document that listed over 850 botanical remedies, dated to around 1500 B.C. One herbal preparation was called "kyphi", a mixture of different ingredients, which could be used as an incense, perfume, or medicine. It was said this mixture was an antiseptic, balsamic, promoted restful sleep, and was an antidote for a number of different poisons. Oils such as myrrh, cedarwood, frankincense, and styrax benzoin, were used extensively in the embalming process and can still be detected today, almost 4000 years later.
The Egyptians created fragrances for personal use as well as for ritualistic and ceremonial use in the temples and pyramids. Many mixtures were composed of myrrh oil and honey. Myrrh, cedarwood, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg oils were most often used for embalming, due to its effectiveness in preventing bacterial growth.
Aromatics, as they were called, were some of the most prized treasures of the ancient world - they were traded for gold, silver and even slaves. To understand how valuable essential oils were in ancient Egypt, records show that when the tomb of Tutankhamen (1333 – 1324 BC) was opened in 1922, 350 litres of oil were discovered in alabaster jars. Amazingly, the plant waxes had solidified around the openings of the jars, sealing and preserving the oils!
Alabaster unguent jar found in Tutankhamen’s tomb
One of Egypt’s more lavish Pharaohs, Ramses III (1183 – 1152 BC), once offered 246 measures and 86 bundles of cinnamon, and 3,036 logs on another occasion, for a petition to one of his Deities.
There are two reasons why the ancient Egyptians used the oils in the tombs and pyramids. Firstly, ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife thinking that they could take their worldly treasure with them. Hence many of the tombs were full of treasures all buried with the owner so that when he or she woke up in the afterlife is riches will be there waiting for him or her. As essential oils were considered very precious for health and beauty they were part of the treasure stashed alongside the mummy. And secondly the oils were used to embalming. Traces of oils like spikenard, cedarwood, cypress, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon have been found impregnated in mummies' bandages. Most likely these oils were used for their antiseptic and antibacterial properties helping preserving the bodies. In case of royal family it was believed that the oils used to protect the embalming would help them arrive in the afterlife intact. Which in fact, embalming was remarkable effective as fragments of intestine examined under microscope reveal remarkable condition even after thousands of years.
The Egyptians held scents in high regard and utilized them in medicine, food preservation, cosmetics, cooking and religion. The earliest recorded recipe for deodorant can be found in the Papyrus Ebers of 1,500 BC and there are recorded incidents of essences being used in the treatment of manias, depression and nervous disorders. The principles of aromatherapy even played a part in the building of towns when a town commissioned by Akhenaton, who is probably more famous for his marriage to Nefertiti, was built with large spaces for the burning of herbs to keep the air germ free.
The ancient Egyptians were also using the oils for cosmetics, beauty, massage and healing purposes, receiving bath treatments from bowls or vases full of flower and plant substances. Often ladies would have baths followed by a massage with scented oil and aromatic ointment applied into the skin by massaging through out the whole body by slaves. It is thought they coined the term perfume, from the Latin per fumum which translates as through the smoke. Egyptian men of the time used fragrance as readily as the women. An interesting method that the men used to fragrance themselves was to place a solid cone of perfume on their heads. It would gradually melt and would cover them in fragrance. Egyptian perfume had the reputation that French has today. Kyphi contained 16 different essences, calamus, myrrh, juniper, mastic, cinnamon, cassia, spikenard, cypress, henna, terebinth, frankincense, and saffron. Plutarch wrote: The smell of this perfume penetrates your body through the nose. It makes you feel well and relaxed, the mind floats and you may find yourself in a dreamy state of happiness as if listening to beautiful music.
Priests would also use the oils for the relief of various illnesses, making potions and unguents. They would extract the oil from the plant by infusion into ointments. This involved leaving the plant material in a base oil of fat in the sun. After a few days, the base fat would have been permeated with the essence of the part of the plant to which can be detected today after 3000 of years. This method of extraction is still used today, primarily in the perfume industry.
As Egypt grew strong they imported exotic scents as a sign of economic and political might. They imported frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh and cinnamon as tribute from conquered peoples and with trading partners, these treasures were sometimes exchanged for gold. Perfumery was closely linked with religion and each God and Goddess was allotted a fragrance. Statues were anointed with secret formulations made by Priests and used for such a variety of times as prayer, healing, war and love.
Although it was thought that most essential oils were produced in Egypt by means of a type of enfleurage extraction method, the Egyptians in actual fact did have access to the distillation method via the Mesopotamians as distillation pots have been found at Tepe Gawra dating back about 3,500 BC. This allowed for the crude extraction of cedarwood oil. It is also thought by some that Persia and India may have also invented crude distillation machines, but very little is known.
When the Egyptian tombs were opened in the early 20th century, traces of the herbs were discovered with intact portions of the body. The scent, although faint, was still apparent. Although the cedarwood the Egyptians used was distilled by a crude distillation process, the other oils the Egyptians used were most likely infused oils.
For example traces of oils were found in the tomb of the King Menes founder and ruler of the city of Memphis in 3,000 BC.
The ancient Egyptians believed that the sense of smell and ability to detect odors was the most important of our sensory abilities. They considered the sense of smell far more important than sight or even the ability to think. That was because they knew the importance of odors to increase our intrinsic "frequency" and transform us. The utchat pendant found on the mummy of Tutankhamen depicts the alchemy of spiritual nourishment both in the afterlife and in the created world. The most energy absorption available to the human is assigned to the nose. 1/2 heqat = Energy of Smell (symbolized by the right part of eye that points toward the nose). Smell, then, represents the subtlest sense of odor and intuition, which was the soul-centered "Intelligence of the Heart" to the Egyptians. Without this higher nourishment, our spirit starves, becomes weak, and eventually dies.
The Eye of Ra In the 1870's, George Ebers found and translated a papyrus document that listed over 850 botanical remedies, dated to around 1500 B.C. One herbal preparation was called "kyphi", a mixture of different ingredients, which could be used as an incense, perfume, or medicine. It was said this mixture was an antiseptic, balsamic, promoted restful sleep, and was an antidote for a number of different poisons. Oils such as myrrh, cedarwood, frankincense, and styrax benzoin, were used extensively in the embalming process and can still be detected today, almost 4000 years later.
The Egyptians created fragrances for personal use as well as for ritualistic and ceremonial use in the temples and pyramids. Many mixtures were composed of myrrh oil and honey. Myrrh, cedarwood, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg oils were most often used for embalming, due to its effectiveness in preventing bacterial growth.
Aromatics, as they were called, were some of the most prized treasures of the ancient world - they were traded for gold, silver and even slaves. To understand how valuable essential oils were in ancient Egypt, records show that when the tomb of Tutankhamen (1333 – 1324 BC) was opened in 1922, 350 litres of oil were discovered in alabaster jars. Amazingly, the plant waxes had solidified around the openings of the jars, sealing and preserving the oils!
Alabaster unguent jar found in Tutankhamen’s tomb
One of Egypt’s more lavish Pharaohs, Ramses III (1183 – 1152 BC), once offered 246 measures and 86 bundles of cinnamon, and 3,036 logs on another occasion, for a petition to one of his Deities.
There are two reasons why the ancient Egyptians used the oils in the tombs and pyramids. Firstly, ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife thinking that they could take their worldly treasure with them. Hence many of the tombs were full of treasures all buried with the owner so that when he or she woke up in the afterlife is riches will be there waiting for him or her. As essential oils were considered very precious for health and beauty they were part of the treasure stashed alongside the mummy. And secondly the oils were used to embalming. Traces of oils like spikenard, cedarwood, cypress, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon have been found impregnated in mummies' bandages. Most likely these oils were used for their antiseptic and antibacterial properties helping preserving the bodies. In case of royal family it was believed that the oils used to protect the embalming would help them arrive in the afterlife intact. Which in fact, embalming was remarkable effective as fragments of intestine examined under microscope reveal remarkable condition even after thousands of years.
The Egyptians held scents in high regard and utilized them in medicine, food preservation, cosmetics, cooking and religion. The earliest recorded recipe for deodorant can be found in the Papyrus Ebers of 1,500 BC and there are recorded incidents of essences being used in the treatment of manias, depression and nervous disorders. The principles of aromatherapy even played a part in the building of towns when a town commissioned by Akhenaton, who is probably more famous for his marriage to Nefertiti, was built with large spaces for the burning of herbs to keep the air germ free.
The ancient Egyptians were also using the oils for cosmetics, beauty, massage and healing purposes, receiving bath treatments from bowls or vases full of flower and plant substances. Often ladies would have baths followed by a massage with scented oil and aromatic ointment applied into the skin by massaging through out the whole body by slaves. It is thought they coined the term perfume, from the Latin per fumum which translates as through the smoke. Egyptian men of the time used fragrance as readily as the women. An interesting method that the men used to fragrance themselves was to place a solid cone of perfume on their heads. It would gradually melt and would cover them in fragrance. Egyptian perfume had the reputation that French has today. Kyphi contained 16 different essences, calamus, myrrh, juniper, mastic, cinnamon, cassia, spikenard, cypress, henna, terebinth, frankincense, and saffron. Plutarch wrote: The smell of this perfume penetrates your body through the nose. It makes you feel well and relaxed, the mind floats and you may find yourself in a dreamy state of happiness as if listening to beautiful music.
Priests would also use the oils for the relief of various illnesses, making potions and unguents. They would extract the oil from the plant by infusion into ointments. This involved leaving the plant material in a base oil of fat in the sun. After a few days, the base fat would have been permeated with the essence of the part of the plant to which can be detected today after 3000 of years. This method of extraction is still used today, primarily in the perfume industry.
As Egypt grew strong they imported exotic scents as a sign of economic and political might. They imported frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh and cinnamon as tribute from conquered peoples and with trading partners, these treasures were sometimes exchanged for gold. Perfumery was closely linked with religion and each God and Goddess was allotted a fragrance. Statues were anointed with secret formulations made by Priests and used for such a variety of times as prayer, healing, war and love.