Kyphi
Kyphi was an Egyptian temple incense that was so important that its various formulae were engraved onto temple walls. Kyphi is an oil- and fat-free incense based on wine and raisins with added fragrant botanicals. It was used in sacred ritual but also to relieve insomnia and provide deep sleep.
The formula traveled through the ancient world and the Egyptians were scandalized when the Greeks began to use kyphi as an aphrodisiac. Today, the word “kyphi” is frequently used by manufacturers of spiritual products to indicate any incense possessing an ancient Egyptian “ambience.”
What You Need
Henna
Juniper
Red Wine
Golden raisins
Cardamom
Sweet flag/calamus root
Cinnamon
Peppermint
Bay leaves
Galangal
Orris root
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of myrrh resin
Instructions
- Grind together equal parts dried ground acacia, henna, and juniper berried.
- Soak the resulting powder in enough wine to cover.
- In a separate container soak golden raisins in wine.
- Allow this soaking process to continue for seven days.
- Separately grind equal amounts of cardamom, sweet flag/calamus, cinnamon, peppermint, bay leaves, galangal, and orrisroot.
- Blend together and grind into a fine powder.
- Add a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of myrrh resin to the spice mixture.
- Drain the herbs and raisins soaking in wine and add them to the honey/myrrh/spice mixture.
- Add sufficient wine to form a thick paste.
- Use this as is (simmer it to release the fragrance) or dry it, cut into squares and burn as incense.
Notes
- You may also adds: Coriander seeds, Frankincense, Mastic resin, Rosebuds
