Scientists have discovered that ancient Egyptian mummies emit a pleasant smell

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An international team of scientists from University College London (UK) and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) has found that well-preserved Egyptian mummies emit a pleasant woody-spicy and sweet aroma. These aromas may be associated with the use of pine and juniper resins during the embalming process. The results of the study were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).

In the course of their work, the team analyzed the aromas of nine approximately 5,000-year-old mummies stored in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. For this, both chemical analysis and a team of odor experts were involved.

“We were surprised that we did not find any signs of decomposition or microbial degradation. This indicates that the storage conditions in the museum were good,” said Matija Strlic, a professor of chemistry at the University of Ljubljana.

Smell played an important role in the mummification process, as pleasant aromas were associated with purity and divinity, while unpleasant odors were a sign of decay. The scientists say that the method of analyzing air molecules emitted from the sarcophagi allows them to assess the state of preservation of the mummies without physical intervention.

However, today's odors can differ from the original ones due to evaporation, oxidation and storage conditions over thousands of years. The researchers hope to use their data to create “olfactory landscapes” that can recreate the smells of ancient mummies and improve the experience for museum visitors.

"We want to share with you the feelings we have when we smell mummified bodies. That's why we recreate this smell for visitors to the National Egyptian Museum in Cairo," said Cecilia Bembibre, one of the study's authors. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”