She is Pharaoh
foremost of noble ladies
At KLEIO, our goal is to not only recreate aromas of the past but also to share the fascinating history behind each candle.
When you read the mood-setting narrative for She is Pharaoh, we hope that you feel transported back thousands of years to Ancient Egypt. The She is Pharaoh candle recreates the aromas in Hatshepsut's royal temple.
Hatshepsut became the fifth Egyptian Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty in 1478 BCE.
She was only the second woman known to have ruled Egypt at that time. As the primary wife of Pharaoh Thutmose II, she assumed the throne after he died. And although she was considered a queen regent to his successor, a then two-year-old Thutmose III, she went on to rule Egypt as Pharaoh for more than 20 years.
During her reign, Hatshepsut helped to usher in an era of wealth and prosperity, commissioning new building construction throughout Egypt and reestablishing trade partnerships in northern Africa. Notably, she led an expedition to the Land of Punt, an ancient kingdom located in modern-day Somalia. This expedition resulted in many precious goods brought back to Egypt, including highly prized frankincense and myrrh, which were used in religious ceremonies.
Hatshepsut died in 1458 BCE. Her successor Thutmose III, with the potential motivation of eliminating any evidence of a female ruler, attempted to remove all traces of her rule from historical records. Referred to as damnatio memoriae, or "condemnation of memory," by historians, Hatshepsut's images and associations were literally chiseled off stone and artwork.
She is pharaoh: Behind the Name
Hatshepsut, which means "Foremost of Noble Ladies," was one of only a small number of women known to have ruled Egypt. Acknowledged as king or Pharaoh as early as seven years into her reign, she is generally regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful Pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of a native Egyptian dynasty (Cleopatra, who ruled for nearly 30 years, descended from the Macedonian Greek Ptolemy line). According to Egyptologist James Henry Breasted, Hatshepsut is known as "the first great woman in history of whom we are informed."
The Aromas of Hatshepsut's Temple
Hatshepsut was one of the most fascinating women of the ancient world. Her temple in Thebes, the capital of Ancient Egypt, stands today as one of Ancient Egypt's most striking architectural structures.
In creating She is Pharaoh, we extensively researched the sights and smells of Hatshepsut's time. The ancient aromas flowing through Hatshepsut's royal chambers were thick with spices, honey, and sweet fruits. As Pharaoh, she would have access to nothing but the finest ingredients for incense.
The burning of incense was central to the worship of the gods of Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians burned frankincense in the morning, myrrh at midday, and Kyphi (Kapet) in the evening. Kyphi is a composite incense, featuring ingredients like calamus, cinnamon, dried fruits like fig, and honey.
KLEIO's She is Pharaoh candle features fragrance notes of royal honey, dried figs, exotic spices, cinnamon bark, frankincense, and mystical myrrh.
Ancient Egyptian priest burning incense
SHE IS PHARAOH
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