The ancient Egyptians used a wide variety of oils from various plants and trees, such as balsam, cedar, and moringa. Oils were used to make skin treatments and perfumes and as part of the embalming process and certain religious rituals. For skin treatments, the oils were typically mixed with solid animal fats and fragrant substances like flower petals. Flowers and other fragrant substances would be soaked in oils and the mixture then squeezed through cloth to separate the scented oil from the plant matter to make perfume. Oils intended for religious rituals might be scented in the same way. These oils were used to anoint cult statues and other religious objects; they also might be placed around the temple in bowls to scent the air. Exotically spiced oils from Syria, Libya, and Lebanon were used during the embalming process to cover up offensive odors and to cleanse the body and make it easier to manipulate.

See also: cosmetics and perfumes ; mummification ; plants and flowers .