Throughout my visit to Egypt, I collected a lot of interesting purchases that captured the essence of each place I visited. From an intricate arm cuff, fragrant perfumes to a succulent hibiscus tea, I made a list of the beautiful pieces that made it into my luggage and travelled all the way back to Mauritius with me. Each of these souvenirs is tied to a memorable place of its own, whether it was from a tiny shop we discovered on a random Wednesday in Luxor or a shop situated in the Giza plateau. If you want to understand the backdrop behind the souvenirs, be sure to read my previous article about my visit to Egypt where I share my personal experience, recommendation and memories that shaped my trip to this wonderful and majestic land. Sooo now, let’s dive into my purchases….
Alabaster From Luxor
While visiting Luxor during a full day trip, we got the opportunity to visit a workshop where we observed artisans carving and working the material. Alabaster is a form of calcite that is prized for its durability, and glowing appearance. Since the stone is translucent, the glow can be seen when you place a candle, torch or light bulb inside the alabaster piece. I ended up buying a cute candle holder.
Tip: make sure to negotiate price or it can get really expensive.
Jewelry
Egyptian jewelry: I am simply fond of them. They look intricate, fashionable and at the same time it’s like, wearing a piece of history around the fingers. I ended up buying brass rings and a lotus arm cuff at the Kom Ombo gift shop.I also later bought a gold ring in a shop known as Karos gift shop which is situated on the Nile corniche in East Luxor and few silver jewelries in Giza.
Papyrus
I won’t lie-I honestly can’t tell if I bought authentic papyrus or banana leaf, but I totally fell for the cute bundle of bookmark sold near Kom Ombo temple. They were a perfect budget-friendly gifting option for me. I also picked up small piece of papyrus art sold from the wonderful Hassle-free shop (I talked about this much appreciated gift shop in my previous article.) Back home, I framed them and used them as wall art-they are a beautiful reminder of that trip.
Bucket hat
If you know me, you know I am absolutely obsessed with bucket hats and I love collecting them. I ended up buying a good quality one with an embroidered design, in one of the gift shops on the Nile corniche in East Luxor.
Hibiscus tea.
There is something different about the Egyptian hibiscus tea-it hits completely different. Its flavorful and smells amazing. Plus, its packed with health benefits. The best part is that I didn’t have to search far as I got them in Kazyon in Luxor and walked out with four boxes. It is by far my most useful purchase.
Konouz authentic statues.
Let’s talk about Konouz. Konouz is the official state-sanction shop where master artisans create replicas of ancient artefacts. From the Ceremonial Throne of Tutankhamun to golden Anubis statues…you name it boy. I made my first purchase in Luxor temple gift shop where they were selling a portion of these replica artefacts and I chose a golden Sekhmet statue. It’s truly a delight for the eyes to see myself bringing a piece of Egyptian artefact home; Even if technically, it’s a replica, the quality makes it feel remarkably authentic. Why Sekhmet, you may ask? Well Sekhmet, also known as the powerful one is a fiery lion head goddess. She is a symbol of courage, and a goddess of healing. Bringing home Sekhmet itself just spoke to me. Having a piece of her, gave me more courage and willpower to do things. This piece that is now displayed in my home brings this protective energy and I can feel its ability to ward off evil energy. Miniature scale of Tutankhamun mask Meticulously crafted and painted in gold, The funerary mask of Tutankhamun was one of my best purchasing decisions. Its intricate design, colors and detail of the mask such as the beard, necklace and headpiece makes it a cute addition to my home aesthetics. While I originally intended to buy it in Luxor, I ended up making the final purchase at the Konouz shop located in the Giza Pyramids Complex, at the Panorama Station.
Keychains
Great for gifting, we bought a lot of keychains at the Hassle-free shop in Luxor. They were cute, nicely made and affordable, we ended buying a lot and gifted most of them to our relatives and friends back home
Postcard
My never-ending story with post card... Postcards are a must buy in every trip specially in this digital era. I just love this authentic, paper feeling. A staple souvenir from each of my trips. I ended buying them in Luxor as they were around 5 EGP each.
Perfume oil
During our tour in Luxor, we ended up in a workshop in East Luxor known as Elite Perfumery, which also turned out to the most authentic experiences of the entire trip. The moment we walked in; we were welcomed with hibiscus tea; that was actually my very first time trying it, and it was love at first sip! It completely inspired my mission to stock up on boxes of it later on.
As we sat back and relaxed, they explained the fascinating history, health benefits, and traditional uses of Egypt's pure oil essences. The aromatherapy and blending process was so captivating that we couldn't resist leaving with four different custom bottles of our own.
Least but not last, let’s talk about the miscellaneous item that were bought back from Egypt. There are some few articles we got here and there., such as a variety of scarab décor, scarab magnet and scarab beads. Scarab was an important element in the Egyptian Myth as it was a symbol of eternity, rebirth and creation. We also bought a handful of Anubis statues, handmade mini perfume bottles and Bastet statues.
That wraps up my ultimate Egyptian shopping guide! I hope this curated list gives you plenty of ideas, practical tips, and inspiration if you are currently planning your own adventure to Egypt. Missed the rest of my Egyptian journey? You can catch up on here: https://theleisurejournal.com/blog/article-2/