The Ti-Sps: Hathor’s Sacred Perfume
Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love, beauty, music, and joy, held a special connection with perfumes and flowers, symbolising her divine essence. As the patroness of perfumes, she was associated with the fragrance of myrrh, a resinous substance used in religious rituals and considered her sacred scent. Myrrh played a crucial role in the creation of Hathor’s sacred perfume, the ti-Sps, which was added to various perfume recipes as the final, signature touch. This inclusion not only marked the perfume as superior quality but also connected it with the goddess herself, signifying that it carried Hathor’s blessing.
The creation of the ti-Sps perfume was a sacred and meticulous process, requiring 243 days of preparation. Every stage of this extensive process was conducted with devotion, as the perfume makers, often priests and priestesses, chanted spells and prayers to Hathor, invoking her presence and guidance. This careful craftsmanship and dedication ensured that the perfume was not just a scent, but a sacred offering to the goddess. The time invested in its preparation, coupled with the spiritual rituals, made the ti-Sps not just a perfume but an object of worship.
Once the ti-Sps was ready, it was reserved for Hathor’s annual festival, a grand celebration of the goddess held in temples across Egypt. During this time, the sacred perfume filled the air of Hathor’s temples, its fragrance symbolizing the goddess’s presence. The scent was applied to statues of Hathor twice daily by the temple priests, as an act of devotion and to honour her. The ti-Sps was more than a fragrance; it was an integral part of the festival’s rituals, helping to create a sensory experience that connected the worshippers with the divine.
After the festival concluded, the ti-Sps perfume was carefully stored away, only to be used again in the following year’s celebration. Its exclusivity, used only once a year, added to its mystique and sacredness. The perfume was seen as a precious link to the goddess, and its preservation ensured that the essence of Hathor would continue to be part of the temple’s rituals. The limited use of the ti-Sps made it a rare and revered part of Hathor’s worship, heightening the anticipation and reverence for her festival each year.
The ti-Sps perfume was crafted from a variety of ingredients, including carob, myrrh, and styrax, among others. These ingredients were chosen not only for their aromatic qualities but also for their spiritual significance. Myrrh, Hathor’s sacred fragrance, was the heart of the perfume, while other ingredients added depth and complexity to the scent. The combination of these ingredients, along with the sacred rituals involved in its creation, made the ti-Sps a perfume unlike any other, embodying the beauty, grace, and divine power of Hathor.
Hathor’s sacred perfume, the ti-Sps, was a dense, 5-gram black paste, carefully crafted as a ritual offering rather than a personal fragrance. Unlike typical perfumes meant for the skin, the ti-Sps was designed solely for dedication to the goddess, with its application reserved for Hathor’s statues during sacred ceremonies. While the perfume is not irritating to the skin, its composition includes a small amount of charcoal, which can leave a dark stain if applied. The black hue of the paste reflects its deep, mystical connection to the divine, symbolizing both the potency and reverence of the offering.