| During a break from my Aromatherapy studies in | | | | comparison bared little resemblance to our |
| London, I set out on a trip with my girlfriend to | | | | 'paradise' accommodation in modern day Cairo. |
| Egypt. I'd always been fascinated with Ancient | | | | Cleanliness was obviously not a priority, not by |
| Egyptian culture and impressed by their diverse | | | | any means… no siree!!! Anyway we were |
| knowledge and documented use of essential oils. | | | | exhausted and decided to stay regardless. After a |
| Not only were essential oils sourced and used for | | | | weary day we both looked forward to a restful |
| the sensual pleasure imparted through perfumery, | | | | night sleep only to discover that our beds would |
| they also played a paramount part in ceremonial | | | | reveal another not so pleasant surprise bed mites |
| worshiping and for general health and wellbeing. To | | | | …aghhh! |
| my surprise I was about to find out how | | | | Fortunately, I brought some essential oils on the |
| resourceful a few essential oils could be. | | | | trip and pulled out my trusty bottle of (antiseptic, |
| We arrived at Cairo Airport in the wee hours of | | | | insecticidal, parasiticidal, deodorising, sedating) |
| the morning excited and apprehensive about our | | | | French Lavender Essential Oil and put a few drops |
| new adventure. Little did we know about bungling | | | | on some tissues that we placed strategically in |
| taxi drivers in Cairo. It didn't help that the only | | | | the bed. Egyptian mummies had the right idea, |
| directions we had for accommodation was our | | | | ritually embalmed in Frankincense and Myrrh and |
| out-of-date 'Lonely Planet' guide. An hour of hap | | | | firmly wrapped in bandages…nothing gets |
| hazard driving and we finally arrived at a place | | | | in and nothing gets out. |
| that the driver, very convincingly, told us was | | | | Essential oils are a must when travelling. |
| paradise! Yeah, right... | | | | Fortunately for a little forethought we survived |
| Now I know for a fact that the Ancient Egyptians | | | | sharing trains with farm animals, overcrowded bus |
| took cleanliness seriously. There are even ancient | | | | trips with lunatic drivers and need I say almost |
| records of an essential oil deodorant recipe dating | | | | disappearing into the desert by camel…. |
| back to 1500BC. For those Egyptians who were | | | | but that's another story. |
| quite decadent, bathing more than once a day in | | | | Your essential oil travel kit should contain: |
| different temperature baths with perfumed oils | | | | lavender, chamomile, geranium, peppermint, ginger, |
| was one of a number of beauty-enhancing rituals. | | | | tea tree and thyme. |
| But of course that was Ancient Egypt, which on | | | | |