`Ature Body Essence Presents Our Story:
‘Sudan
Attila the Han could not have a better perfume arsenal compared to the perfume arsenals of the Sudan Sudan Sudan
A perfumed vacation….Oh my! As my husband and I journeyed to his homeland, El Sudan
Little did I know about Sudan
The Land of Ancestral
A Seventy-five thousand year history known as “Ta Khent”
The extreme climate affects the land and people, justly with its large land mass and rich soil. Unjustly when nature decides to be unforgiving, giving the food supply and economics a jolt! Yet ancient Pyramids of the Nubian mountains, bolded the rough and rugged terrain for centuries. Like her inhabitants bold, proud and steadfast in harsh times.
Amidst the historical cross cultural trade routes, Kush peoples (ancient Sudanese); expanded their trade routes from the Nubian mountains, clear across the red sea to Saudi Arabia
Luscious gold, silver ,perfumes of fine quality was highly sought after as El Sudan had all the glory and precious goods The trading created wealth education and shared knowledge among the traders. Archeologist has located the first cemeteries and vivid signs of the very first animal domestication. A formation of mixed cultures blossomed into a melting pot, which presents itself as a Sudanese cultural explosion.
Culture Comforts
Women have gained employment in the work force. Breeding high educational demands, Sudan Sudan
Sudanese Cuisine
&
Mad food Science
Families visit under the moonlight Veranda….. Laughter and wise cracks bring surrounding sound and set the tone for the evening. In order to appreciate the flavors and complexity of the traditional beverages (Sudan
The most famous beverage is Ah-Breh an alchemic formulation straight form god personally. Who would have thought of Alpha Sprouts dried in the extreme heat of nature’s sunshine?
Its metamorphosis becomes chips with a red Hue
I am realizing that this aromatic infusion heighteners the senses and quickly takes your mind off the blazing sun. A drink authored by the ancients filling their majestic Queendoms and Kingdoms with this fragrant delight.
To continue our beverage soire our next contestant is Ara-Daib, Tamarind known to the west. A brown dried fleshy fruit in a stringed pod shaped like a kidney bean. OMG to live for a sweet and sour duo, only nature can provide sweetened with the right amount of raw sugar. No alchemy performed on this drink.
Lastly a world prized drink Hibiscus Ker-ka-deh, a drink known to all Sudanese, aka,
Salute
Excitement is in the air, where are the delicious good aromatics?
Tea Time by the White River Nile
I am salivating over a buffet of edible goods, my mind drifts into wonderment about Queen Candace, a Nubian Queen pleasured by the same opulent fragrant foods. What would she be wearing a Thobe made of fine silk or finely combed cotton? Returning to conscious I notice a cornucopia of African Asiatic and European Cuisine. This must be paradise on earth. Yes in El Sudan
The Sudania prides herself around her family, home and most of all her cooking that bonds their culture. Our family quickly realizes my curiosity. My husband, well he just wants to dine. My family explains; when certain foods are displayed during certain events such as the remarkable Sudanese weddings.
The more decadent, comes competition-a remarkable occasion. Extra large trays filled with exotic perfumes freshly made henna from near by gardens and hypnotic incense beyond grandeur to mention for life.
As we prepare to dine to a festive labyrinth of foods, my eyes quickly gaze over a stuffed crumpet with fruit and rich cheese. The exhaustive menu includes: stuffed English cucumbers, bell peppers and yes stuffed eggplant all known as Ma-Shee. Fasoulia; slowly cooked white beans simmered in a lamb tomato sauce-I asked for this daily.
There is a treasure to be found within a melting pot of cultures. Food being the best of all! I’m certain most who visit will find good food to enjoy.
The Heritage of the cuisine is vast according to food cultivation and climatic conditions. Our Salad is made crisp fresh and spicy yet cooling (Sa-la-ta) daikon a long white root peppery similar to a carrot. Arugula umm (Geer-Geer) with sweet tomatoes and cucumbers
Permeate the winds
Screen Back Aromatics
I am already familiar with the incense Bakour, and its derivative a fragrant wood. Dukan (the fragrant wood grows freely in the western Sudan Omdurman
This is as good as it gets a warm airy breeze of white musk fallen from the heavens.
Amber resin oil have been artistically distilled into a warm mystical and fleeting aroma, perfection.
When worn on the body it carefully, quietly layers and summons your soul.
It whispers away and returns unannounced. See for yourself!
Sandalwood chips finely ground.
We are now ready for our high powered arsenals whispering warm majestic spicy aromatics laced with intrigue. I promise you joy and intense laughter. My initiation into the scented realm could only be from the natural world.
Imagine a pure joyful experience that ignites your senses and promote calm. A menagerie of sophistication. What is it? Khumura (Khu-mu-ra). After speaking with my sister –in law she told me this; Khumura is from an age old formula dating back four thousand years! A beaming formula with subtle and bold variations! A formula bursting with oils of sandalwood, haba Han (cardamom), amber musk, clove and orange.
Need I mention sugar apple and more, aging in a bottle never to go rancid only to age with grace time and time again? Umm my Khumura is calling me.
After our gracious hostess has wowed me into a hypnotic state she is now ready for arsenal number two. Dilka (Dil-ka), an intense perfumed body paste a pure spa treatment and exfoliant. This unassuming paste has all of the pleasures of khumura and more armed with a Smokey fragrance, quite unusual as one would imagine.
Upon concluding my rigorous dilka treatment, the rejuvenation begins. My circulation is quite in check. Arsenal number three is in the shadows, I am still levitating at this point. Meanwhile beautiful smiling women, used to their beauty of course as I can’t stop admiring their casual about the day beauty are serving me a hibiscus beverage.
I am thinking if beauty looks like this during the day what will beauty look like after dus
I literally had to get hooked on phonics to pronounce Kerkedeh (known to the North America as Hibiscus). It’s nice knowing that I can’t simply say Hibiscus whew.
As I entered the arsenal chamber of a mystic smoke bath seemingly odd compared to the western hydra bath, with herbs swirled into a bubble maze. Elements of aromatics are having a molecular exchange that permeate a delicate and tender sweetness yet powerful.
A contradiction it appears that our featured perfumer has created a perfect balance between pungent spices, fruits, and resins. How did she do this? When asked, she said, “My Mother, My Grandmother, and her Mother. Passed down with a keen aptitude for memory skilled precision makes this wonderful essence perfect every time
The heat is now on blazing with the promise of the sun returning with the same intensity. Arsenals are smoking up a concoction of an aromatic wood (Dukan) and sweet perfumes. At this time I have reluctantly agreed to wrap a heavy cloth over my body, and indulge in a perfumed infused smoke bath. Well I always wanted to what queens of antiquity experienced. My initiation process continues….the price of beauty or should I say the cost of vanity? Sofia our eldest cousin is closely observing me with a fine tooth comb, uttering “Helwah Khadijah Helwah , “beautiful, beautiful”. “Khadijah this is for your husband ooh ooh! I smiled generously and thought, all for a perfumed paradise.
The dermas and Epidermis are fully scented for three to four days. By the time my husband returned from his respective family visits my perfume paradise had ended, only remnants of perfumes fleeted thru the air. I kept hearing comments Oh Khadijah you should have stayed longer in the sauna for your husband! Oh well until next time.
Are we done yet?
Arsenal number four has arrived in full colors. A sugared lemon wax treatment adding the finishing touches to her sister, the dilka treatment. Pure Bliss and silky skin to the touch ooh la lah.
It is quite common in the Sudan
Hadikah
(Park of Love
Upon completion of my Spa treatments, we walked to the park of love. Where Sudanese women make natural roasted coffee and speak tales of love sought after by those who mourn for love. Charming soothsayers ignite enchantment and create fantasies for those who long to see the future. A tradition of days gone by. The park of love is exemplary of love promised hosted by dreams.
A caramelized coating of sugar covered perfume oil is dancing over a scented wood burning around the park of love. Bakour (incense) is the backdrop for all the couples. In the tradition of Marriage Bakour is a married couple’s ingredient for love. This scent is unknown to the western world and smells like warm donuts with a woodsy penetrating note an incredible treat.
Fajr
(Sun Rise)
Sun rise tea, the infamous Chai tea with milk. What makes this tea an international phenomenon; cardamom cloves and cinnamon sweetened to taste? Morning has arrived and I am shamefully thinking of my collective meals for the day. Shah no one knew but me.
Thobe
(Sudania Attire)
Upon the Sudanese women retiring from her weekly spa treatment she is now treated for her extended beauty the Thobe
Beauty invites intrigue, one cannot conceive of a lonely sparkled colorful piece of fabric becoming a charming gown for day or evening ware. A flowing garment scented with perfumes. The Thobe is donned by Sudanese women which fully covers the entire bodice.
To complement this gorgeous gown henna designs on the feet and hands compete for highly desired attention enjoyed by these beauties. The Thobe is commonly worn and has successfully evolved to a high fashioned trend. A true work of art the gown is wrapped around the bodice like a sarong and may be wrapped over the head as an attractive head piece.
Khadijah Imani Elgaili is the creator of `Ature Body Essence and resident perfumer here in San Antonio Texas California South Texas . Her premier fragrance design was mazeej inspired by Northern Sudan ’s rare perfume artistry passed down from her family of natural perfumers.
You may find Khadijah scenting her clients with her full line of natural Bath
On the River Walk J Studio the Salon and Spa 128 E Houston SA, TX. Tel: 210 222-1999
