We finally know what ancient Egyptian mummies smell like

A new study has revealed what ancient Egyptian mummies smell like – and the results might surprise you.

Researchers from UCL and the University of Ljubljana looked into details about mummification practices in the ancient civilisation and found that the bodies smelled ‘woody,’ ‘spicy’ and ‘sweet’.

This new data offers clues about the materials used in mummification and how practices and ingredients evolved, as well as reveals details about how museums have subsequently conserved the remains.

Lead author, Professor Matija Strlič explained: ‘The smell of mummified bodies has for years attracted significant interest from experts and the general public, but no combined chemical and perceptual scientific study has been conducted until now.

‘This ground-breaking research really helps us better plan conservation and understand the ancient embalming materials. It adds another layer of data to enrich the museum exhibition of mummified bodies.’

The researchers used a gas chromatograph to measure and identify the chemicals emitted by the bodies on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

They also utilised a panel of ‘trained human sniffers’ to describe the smells based on three factors – quality, intensity, and pleasantness.

From the methods used, researchers were able to identify if the smells came from the actual mummy, conservation products used, or moulds and bacteria which may have formed after the body’s deterioration.

It’s thought the new smell profiles of the mummies could allow museums to create ‘smell scapes’ to better inform visitors about the history of objects and time periods.

In the future, a contemporary reconstruction of the smell of ancient mummified bodies will be produced by the research team, which will enable audiences to experience this important aspect of ancient Egyptian heritage, and approach practices of embalming.

Co-author, Professor Ali Abdelhalim, director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, said: ‘To the ancient Egyptians, mummification was an important mortuary practice aimed at preserving the body and soul for the afterlife through a detailed ritual of embalming of the deceased using oils, waxes and balms.

‘The practice evolved over time, and identifying different techniques and materials used offers insights into the era, location and socioeconomic status of the individual being mummified.’

Even though the mummies are over 5,000 years old, those who have worked with them have described the scents as ‘pleasant’.

This could be due to the resins and oils, such as pine, cedar and juniper, and the use of myrrh and frankincense to scent the bodies.

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