Peppermint was already used in the 14th century to whiten teeth – and later to hide the smell of tobacco. It stimulates blood circulation and is therefore cleansing. According to hieroglyphs found in the Edfu temple, mint was used by the ancient Egyptians as a ritual perfume, and was one of the ingredients of the sacred incense kyphi. In ancient Greece and Rome, mint was widely used in everyday life as an aroma in the bath water and in the beds in powder form.