At first glance, the idea of smelling ancient corpses may seem unpleasant, but a new study has revealed that Egyptian mummies have an unexpectedly pleasant aroma. Researchers investigating the scents of well-preserved mummies were astonished to discover a fragrance described as "woody," "spicy," and "sweet."
“In films and books, terrible things happen to those who smell mummified bodies,” said Cecilia Bembibre, director of research at University College London’s Institute for Sustainable Heritage. “We were surprised at the pleasantness of them.”
The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, analyzed the odors of nine mummies—some as old as 5,000 years—that were either on display or stored at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Researchers used a combination of chemical analysis and a panel of human sniffers to examine the aromas.
The smells of mummies have intrigued historians, archaeologists, and even fiction writers for years. In ancient Egypt, scent played a vital role in the mummification process, as oils, waxes, and balms were used to preserve bodies for the afterlife. Pleasant fragrances were associated with purity and divinity, while foul odors were seen as signs of corruption and decay.
The embalming process often included pine and juniper resins, which may account for the floral notes detected by researchers. However, without directly sampling the mummies—an invasive process—scientists had to use non-contact methods to distinguish between odors coming from the mummies themselves and those from pesticides, conservation treatments, or environmental factors.
Matija Strlič, a chemistry professor at the University of Ljubljana and co-author of the study, expressed initial concerns about detecting unpleasant odors linked to decomposition. However, no such signs were found, indicating that the museum’s environment is effective in preserving these ancient remains.
“This technique allows us to understand not just the state of preservation, but also the social status of the individual and the materials used in mummification,” Strlič explained. “It provides valuable insights for conservators, curators, and archaeologists.”
Barbara Huber, a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology who was not involved in the study, emphasized that while the findings are valuable, the scents detected today may not be identical to those present at the time of mummification. Factors such as evaporation, oxidation, and storage conditions have likely altered the original fragrance over thousands of years.
The researchers hope to use their findings to develop "smellscapes" that recreate the scents of mummification for museum exhibits, allowing visitors to experience history in a more immersive way.
“Museums have been called white cubes, where you are prompted to read, to see, to approach everything from a distance with your eyes,” Bembibre said. “Observing the mummified bodies through a glass case reduces the experience because we don’t get to smell them. We don’t get to know about the mummification process in an experiential way, which is one of the ways that we understand and engage with the world.”
This study adds a new sensory dimension to the way we experience ancient history, providing valuable insights into both preservation techniques and cultural practices from thousands of years ago.
Source: New York Post