Scents can trigger vivid memories, and teleport us to places, past moments and environments even when we’re miles away. Walking along Egypt’s streets, one can be hit with many scents, both ancient and new, that define the soul of a community or a street. Across history, Egyptians were the first to invent the extraction of flower essences, and regarded good smells as a symbol of the sacred. This is evidenced by the tomb of King Tutankhamon, which includes jars that contain lotus flower essence. Fast forward to this day, Egypt’s scents have included influences from various cultures, as well as its changing geographical landscape. The Nile’s Lotus Flower Egypt, surrounded by lakes and rivers, has often been symbolized by the lotus flower – which was famously known as the national flower of Upper Egypt. Growing everywhere along the River Nile and becoming the symbol of Upper Egypt, the lotus flower symbolized purity and cleanliness, and was one of the first sources of scent extraction. The bloom was used for the aromatic substances that were necessary for the afterlife to help in the resurrection. Perfumes with names like “Nile Lily,” launched…
