Paris just got a whiff of ancient Egypt! Egypt’s Ambassador to France, Alaa Youssef, officially opened the “Perfumes of Ancient Egypt” exhibition at Maison d’Égypte. The showcase, running free of charge until October 2, 2025, is all about giving visitors an immersive, multi-sensory dive into the mysterious world of Pharaonic perfumes.
Virtual Reality Brings Ancient Scents to Life
This isn’t your typical museum walk-through. The exhibition blends VR tech, sound, visuals, and scents—thanks to French company Olfy—to bring the art of perfume-making from thousands of years ago right to your senses. Visitors can literally smell what the Pharaohs smelled: from daily life to religious rituals, funerary rites, and even the mummification process.
Artifacts & Manuscripts Reveal the Role of Perfume in Ancient Egypt
The exhibition features jaw-dropping images of artifacts from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Expect statues of Queen Hatshepsut and Amun-Ra, vessels and bottles once used to store perfumes, and manuscripts revealing ancient fragrance recipes. You’ll also see dried flowers from the New Kingdom and scenes of Hatshepsut’s legendary expedition to Punt, where myrrh and frankincense were brought back for perfume making.
The Exhibition Builds on the Success of Cairo’s First Edition in 2024
This is actually the exhibition’s second edition. Its first run at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo in late 2024 was a massive hit. Bringing it to Paris shows off not only Egypt’s cultural richness but also its growing partnership with France in arts and science.
Conclusion
From daily life to sacred rituals, perfume was at the heart of ancient Egyptian culture—and now Paris gets to experience it firsthand. With a perfect mix of history, VR, and scents, this exhibition isn’t just about looking at the past; it’s about living it through your senses.
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