Researchers Analyze the Stunning Smells of Historical Egyptian Mummies 

Right here’s a query you’ve most likely by no means considered: What do Egyptian mummies scent like? 

A global workforce of researchers has a stunning reply: woody, spicy, and candy (however if you happen to’re inexplicably concerned with issues that scent like rotting our bodies, check out the corpse flower). As detailed in a research revealed right this moment within the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the researchers used typical scientific strategies along with skilled human “sniffers” to investigate the scents of historical Egyptian mummies. This artistic strategy sheds new gentle on the long-lasting mummification course of and emphasizes the significance of olfactory heritage. 

“The scent of mummified our bodies has for years attracted vital curiosity from consultants and most people, however no mixed chemical and perceptual scientific research has been carried out till now,” Matija Strlič, a chemist at College Faculty London (UCL) and lead writer on the research, stated in a college assertion. “This ground-breaking analysis actually helps us higher plan conservation and perceive the traditional embalming supplies. It provides one other layer of knowledge to counterpoint the museum exhibition of mummified our bodies.”

Although aromas are invisible to the human eye, they’re truly chemical molecules. Consequently, Strlič and his workforce used fuel chromatography (a way that measures elements in a pattern) and mass spectrometry (a way that identifies compounds) to investigate the chemical molecules emitted by 9 mummies within the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. In addition they employed skilled human “sniffers” (sure, that’s a factor) to explain the standard, depth, and pleasantness of the smells. 

By way of the analyses, the researchers categorized whether or not the smells got here from the traditional mummification approach, fashionable conservation merchandise or potential pesticide residues, and/or from the physique’s pure deterioration—all with utterly non-invasive and non-destructive strategies. They finally described the scent as woody, spicy, and candy, which isn’t stunning, on condition that myrrh, frankincense, and tree resins—reminiscent of pine—have been generally used within the mummification course of. 

“New data was revealed by the smells, highlighting the significance of utilizing our senses to know the previous,” stated Cecilia Bembibre, a heritage scientist from UCL, who additionally participated within the research. 

“To the traditional Egyptians, mummification was an essential mortuary observe aimed toward preserving the physique and soul for the afterlife via an in depth ritual of embalming of the deceased utilizing oils, waxes and balms,” defined Ali Abdelhalim, director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, who co-authored the research. “The observe advanced over time, and figuring out totally different strategies and supplies used affords insights into the period, location and socioeconomic standing of the person being mummified.”

Particularly, nice odors have been linked with divinity and purity, whereas unhealthy smells signaled corruption and (maybe most precisely) decay, in keeping with the researchers. 

The workforce’s strategy might encourage museums to entertain guests with odorous options reminiscent of smellscapes. The truth is, the researchers now plan to reconstruct the scent of historical mummified our bodies as a way to share this nontraditional strategy to learning Egyptian mummies, in addition to spotlight an historical olfactory heritage.

So subsequent time you’re making an attempt to check one thing—attempt smelling it!