The Spice Route

I was lucky enough to visit Egypt with a group of friends last month. The country's ancient treasures like the pyramids of Giza and temples of Luxor and modern marvels like the Aswan High Dam took my breath away. While the cities continue to expand, archaeologists keep finding marvels from centuries past!

Shopping in the Cairo market, of course I had to visit a vendor of perfume oils. He had bottle after bottle of fragrant oil blends, with exotic names (designed to tantalize tourists!) like Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, and Secrets of the Desert. I purchased a blend called Saffran, inspired by the spice.

Egypt was part of the Spice Route, and it's easy to imagine merchants carrying their precious cargo across the desert on camels such as these. There are even such references in the Bible: "And behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt."

Inhaling the variety of spices in the markets, I began to reflect on modern products designed to help "spice up" our lives.

L'Artisan Parfumeur offers a trio of scents called "Epices de la Passion" - and includes Saffran Troublant or "Saffron Spell" (saffron, vanilla and sandlewood), Poivre Piquant or "Fiery Pepper" (white pepper and milky sugar), and Piment Brulant or "Hot Pimento" (Mexican red pepper with chocolate and poppy). Saffran Troublant in particular has achieved something of a cult status among perfume junkies. Packaged in a red satin case, they are each very different and seductive!

Origins has jumped on the spice caravan with "Spice Odyssey" - a foaming body scrub containing spices such as clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and paprika. The scent is truly intoxicating (although doesn't last, so it won't overpower your perfume). It's a powerful scrub, because unlike sugar- and salt-based scrubs, the walnut and coconut shell particles won't dissolve in the shower. However, it ends up leaving coffee-ground like particles all around the tub! Also, it would be better if you could squeeze it out of a tube; it's a bit tricky to scoop the right amout out of the tub. Still, it's a unique product and I'd recommend giving it a try.

DuWop's Lip Venom also unlocks the power of spice to put more pout in your pucker. Intense ingredients like cinnamon, ginger, and wintergreen essential oils create a tingle that helps plump and redden lips. Warning: the zing & sting may make kisses say more than you mean!