LONDON — The idea of smelling the essence of ancient remains might evoke a sense of disgust, yet researchers have discovered that well-preserved Egyptian mummies actually exude rather pleasant fragrances.
Cecilia Bembibre, who leads research at University College London’s Institute for Sustainable Heritage, remarked on the contrast between their findings and the horror often associated with mummified bodies in media. “We were taken aback by how agreeable they turned out to be,” she explained.
Descriptive words for the scents included “woody,” “spicy,” and “sweet,” evoking sensations more akin to a wine tasting than to the investigation of preserved corpses. Floral undertones, possibly derived from the pine and juniper resins used in the embalming rituals, were also identified.
The recent study, shared in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, employed both chemical analysis and assessments from human testers to gauge the aromas released by nine mummies, some of which date back as far as 5,000 years. These mummies were sourced from storage and display settings at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Bembibre noted that the intriguing scent of mummies has captured the interest of both the public and academics through the years. Numerous archaeologists, historians, conservators, and even storytellers have explored this topic, making it a subject of considerable importance.
A key aspect of the mummification process involved various oils, waxes, and balms intended to preserve not just the body, but also its spirit for the afterlife. This practice was primarily reserved for pharaohs and the elite, as pleasant scents symbolized purity and divinity, while foul odors indicated decay and corruption.
The team from UCL and the University of Ljubljana approached the project without extracting samples from the mummies, which would have been invasive. Instead, they investigated whether the emitted aromas originated from the mummies, the conservation treatments applied, or the degradation processes caused by molds and microorganisms.
“We were initially concerned about detecting signs of decay, but to our relief, that was not the case,” stated Matija Strli?, a chemistry professor at the University of Ljubljana. “The findings suggest that the preservation conditions at the museum are quite favorable.”
Strli? likened the use of advanced instruments to measure air molecules released from sarcophagi to finding the Holy Grail. This technique provides insights into the social status of a mummy, revealing significant information for conservators, curators, and archaeologists alike. “We think this methodology could be highly beneficial for other museum collections too,” he added.
Barbara Huber, a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Germany—who was not part of the study—suggested that these findings could lead to important insights regarding substances that affect mummified remains. This knowledge could help in better protecting these historical treasures for future visitors.
However, Huber also indicated a significant limitation: the current scents are not necessarily reflective of those from the original mummification process. Changes over millennia due to evaporation, oxidation, and variations in storage conditions may have significantly transformed the initial scent profiles.
Previously, Huber analyzed the residue from a jar that once contained the mummified organs of a noblewoman, aiming to recognize the ingredients of embalming and what they indicated about ancient trade routes. Collaborating with a perfumer, she created a scent interpretation called “Scent of Eternity” for a display at the Moesgaard Museum in Denmark.
The researchers behind the current study aspire to develop similar projects. They hope to create “smellscapes” that would emulate the detected scents, enriching the museum experience for future visitors.
“Historically, museums have often been described as sterile environments, emphasizing visual engagement over sensory experience,” Bembibre remarked. “Viewing mummified remains behind glass reduces engagement, as sensory elements like scent are bypassed. Understanding the mummification process through experiential means is crucial for our comprehension and connection with history.”
