Monday, 25 May 2026
Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Egypt's Ambassador to France
Ancient Egyptian Perfumes exhibition opens at Maison d’Égypte in Paris
Paris has welcomed the opening of "Ancient Egyptian Perfumes," an immersive exhibition that explores the rich tradition of fragrance-making in ancient Egypt.
Hosted at Maison d’Égypte in the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, the exhibition runs from September 20 to October 2, 2025. It is a collaboration between the Embassy of Egypt in Paris, Paul Valéry University of Montpellier, and the French virtual reality company Olfy.
The inauguration was attended by Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Egypt's Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, along with Dr. Khaled El-Anany—Egypt's candidate for UNESCO Director-General—numerous foreign diplomats, French cultural leaders, and Egyptology experts, the Middle East News Agency reported.
Ambassador Youssef highlighted the exhibition’s success in Cairo last year and celebrated this new Paris edition as an example of the enduring cultural and scientific ties between Egypt and France.
Through multi-sensory, virtual reality experiences and curated imagery, visitors are invited to discover how perfumes played a vital role in ancient Egyptian daily life, religious rituals, and funerary customs. The exhibition aims to shine a light on the diversity and richness of Egypt’s intangible heritage and the artistry behind its ancient fragrance industry.
Ambassador Youssef also underscored the importance of preserving and sharing heritage, a core mission of UNESCO.
He warmly welcomed Dr. El-Anany, praising his academic and professional achievements and his significant contributions to promoting Egypt’s cultural influence worldwide.
Youssef expressed hope for El-Anany’s success in the upcoming UNESCO Director-General elections, highlighting Egypt's commitment to using heritage, science, culture, and education to foster greater understanding among nations.
