ABSTRACT
Essential oils – also known as volatile oils or essences - represent a cornerstone in natural product chemistry. Throughout written human history essential oils have established their specific character as nature’s gift to mankind providing solutions to different problems related to healthcare, agriculture, and industry, among others. Egyptian civilization, lasting from 3300 to 525 BC, had a well-established medical system, in which essential oils played a major role not only confined to the medical use represented by aromatherapy but also extending to the different aspects of life including their ritual ceremonies, personal care, mummification, and others. This book chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the different applications of essential oils from the Egyptian flora, bridging the historical gap from the old uses as recorded in the medical papyri to the most recent applications in the pharmaceutical industry, including their applications in green chemistry and nanotechnology.
