Our journey into the ancient roots of aromatherapy begins in Egypt, a land of desert winds, golden temples and powerful deities. During the reigns of the pharaohs, Egypt was the cradle of science, medicine and ritual — and one of the first civilisations to work extensively with essential oils, incense and aromatic plants.
For the Egyptians, scent was not simply fragrance. It was medicine, magick, devotion and divine communication.
Egyptian priests and priestesses served the gods through daily ritual. Their work began before sunrise:
Incense was central to temple life. Burning aromatic resins was believed to:
Temples dedicated to Hathor, Bastet, Sekhmet, Ra, Maat, Osiris, Isis and Horus were filled with the smoke of sacred plants. Pharaohs spent vast wealth importing resins like frankincense and myrrh from distant lands, offering them to the gods in exchange for protection, prosperity and long reigns.
Below is one of the most important aromatics used in Egyptian ritual — and how its ancient magick can be woven into modern practice.
Folk Names: Incense, Olibanum, Olibans
Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun
Magickal Element: Fire
Aromatic Element: Air
Frankincense was burned at sunrise to honour Ra, the sun god, and was also offered to Baal in neighbouring cultures. Its smoke was believed to carry prayers directly to the heavens.
Magickal & Spiritual Effects
Frankincense has been used for thousands of years for:
When burned, it releases high, uplifting vibrations that clear negativity and open the spiritual senses.
How the Egyptians Used It — and How You Can Use It Today
1. Clearing & Protection
Burning frankincense purifies a space, drives out unwanted energies and creates a protective atmosphere.
2. Meditation & Visioning
Two drops of essential oil on a tissue or a burning incense stick can deepen meditation, enhance intuition and open awareness to the spiritual realms.
3. Ritual & Spellwork
Add frankincense to sachets, poppets or talismans for:
4. Stress Relief & Emotional Healing
Its aroma reduces tension by reminding us that life exists on many levels — easing the weight of hardship and reconnecting us to our higher self.
5. Past Life Work
Frankincense is traditionally used in past‑life rituals to induce visions, support healing and open the doorway to ancestral memory.
Other aromatherapy oils commonly used in Ancient Egypt were:
The Egyptians understood something we often forget: scent is a bridge between worlds. It connects body and spirit, earth and sky, human and divine.
By working with oils like frankincense today, we honour the same ancient wisdom:
Aromatherapy is not just a therapy — it is a lineage, a memory, a sacred practice carried through time.
If you missed it click here for the previous chapter in my aromatherapy series
©Alison SpiritWeaver 2026 – www.alisonspiritweaver.co.uk