Public Workshop no. 1: the Mendesian

An introduction to perfume in Egypt and Greece

At this workshop, we will explore the myths, history, and modern scientific understanding of ancient perfume; we will use our senses of smell and touch to examine what we think are the spices, herbs, resins, and oils used in the past; and we will produce our own perfume following an ancient Greco-Egyptian recipe. By the end of the workshop, participants will have learned how perfumes were made and used in Greco-Egyptian antiquity, how they differ from perfumes today, and how to interpret an ancient recipe. Participants will also be able to take their historical recreation home with them.

Date

Thursday 21 April 2022

Place

Husova 7, 110 00 Praha 1

Schedule

15:00­–15:50. Interactive Lecture on Greco-Egyptian Perfumery and its Ingredients
15:50–16:00. Break (refreshments provided)
16:00–17:00. Recreation of a perfume recipe from Ptolemaic Egypt

The workshop is being held for members of the Institute of Philosophy, CAS. Language of the presentation will be English. A Czech version of the recipe will be available. To register, please send an email to Mgr. Klára Hlaváčková at alchemiesofscent@flu.cas.cz. Please note that capacity is limited.

We look forward to sharing our research with you!

Please avoid the use of perfume or other strong-smelling products in the hours before the workshop.