This world premier will now in all probability be followed by another one: “The desiccated residues of a fluid can be clearly discerned in the x-ray photographs,” the museum´s curator explains. “Our pharmacologists are now going to analyse this sediment.” The results could be available in a good year´s time. If they are successful, the scientists in Bonn are even hoping to “reconstruct” the perfume so that, 3,500 years after the death of the woman amongst whose possessions it was found, the scent could then be revitalised.
— Scientists at Bonn University will try to reconstruct the perfume of Pharaoh Hatshepsut, a “power-conscious woman” who ruled Egypt until her death in 1457 B.C. Read more in What Scents Did The Ancient Egyptians Use? at ScienceDaily.
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I hope Hatshepsut's scent doesn't turn out to be a ringer for Charlie. Perhaps it will be something like Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebes?
LOL — yes, let's hope. Sounds like it will probably have lots of incense, so that should save it from Charlie.
Ohhh, this has me squee-ing in anticipation. However, the “desiccated residues of a fluid” line kinda made my breakfast want to resurface. :O There's a reason I never went into archaeology. lol
“Queen” Hatshepsut ruled as Pharoh, though, and even wore the false beard and other accoutrements worn by the men who usually reigned. Archaeologists think that is why her name (cartouche) has been obliterated wherever it was written. Not that she was a bad pharoh, but that they didn't like her messing with tradition. Ancient Egyptian style of art remained very much the same for thousands of years because of it's connection to their religious beliefs. If you could write it, then it was in sense “alive” and could be reborn in the next life. Kind of a cool concept I think. Anyhoo, I'm getting off track here…
Because of her ambiguity I'm thinking a unisex fragrance leaning a bit more strongly to the masucline is what I'll be expecting. No fruity-floral for this gender-bender!
Do not know much about ancient Egypt…did men & women wear different scents?
I'm not sure if men actually even wore fragrance but I know some were buried with it, probably more as a status symbols since it was a luxury. Women wore perfume in wax form on top of their heads. As the wax warmed up it would melt into their hair/wigs. Sounds icky and problematic to me, but apparently it was all the rage then.
This is so exciting to me! I've been obsessed with ancient Egypt for as long as I can remember! I'm no expert but I think men and women both wore scent (royals, most likely) and even make-up to a degree. (Think: kohl eyeliner to cut down the glare from the sun, etc.)
LeMarcoc, thanks — had forgotten about the wax perfumes.
Well, that's sorta the coolest perfume news I've heard in a while.
Not icky and problematic if one has kinky coarse hair, it moisturizes the scalp and hair.
Some oils such as Shea Butter also have natural sunscreen properties, which would have come in handy in that neck of the woods! (or desert, for that matter)
It's pretty fun. We've got a long wait ahead for an update though!
Good point! (I have fine, wavy hair so that would be nothing but a nightmare for me, lol.) I think both men and women either shaved their heads or wore their hair short to help prevent lice as well as overheating. Wigs were pretty de rigeur even for both the royalty and middle class. And yes, let's not forget the makeup! Women and men wore kohl which I wish was still the case today. Look at what some smudgy black eyeliner did for Johnny Depp.