Homemade Ancient Egyptian Scent

1. Prepare chips of fragrant wood (and leave them to macerate) in wine.
2. Strain through a sieve.
3. Melt a quantity of fat in a vessel. Add sweet herbs (and the liquid of the wood chips). Keep a (slow but) steady heat and stir continuously. Cool, skim off the fat and set aside.
4. Grind herbs and spices carefully.
5. Mix herbs and spices with the fat and shape into little cakes (Leave covered overnight).
6. Place the cakes in a broad pot, (Pour water over and) boil gently, stirring all the time.
7. (Leave to cool and skim off the scented fat). Store in earthenware pots.