Researchers Analyze the Shocking Smells of Historic Egyptian Mummies 

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

A world group of researchers has a shocking reply: woody, spicy, and candy (however if you happen to’re inexplicably focused on issues that scent like rotting our bodies, check out the corpse flower). As detailed in a research revealed immediately within the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the researchers used standard scientific strategies along with educated human “sniffers” to research the scents of historic Egyptian mummies. This inventive method sheds new gentle on the enduring 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 of the people, however no mixed chemical and perceptual scientific research has been carried out till now,” Matija Strlič, a chemist at College School 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 really chemical molecules. Consequently, Strlič and his group used fuel chromatography (a way that measures parts in a pattern) and mass spectrometry (a method that identifies compounds) to research the chemical molecules emitted by 9 mummies within the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Additionally they employed skilled human “sniffers” (sure, that’s a factor) to explain the standard, depth, and pleasantness of the smells. 

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

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

“To the traditional Egyptians, mummification was an necessary mortuary follow 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 follow developed over time, and figuring out completely different methods and supplies used presents insights into the period, location and socioeconomic standing of the person being mummified.”

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

The group’s method may encourage museums to entertain guests with odorous options similar to smellscapes. In actual fact, the researchers now plan to reconstruct the scent of historic mummified our bodies in an effort to share this nontraditional method to finding out Egyptian mummies, in addition to spotlight an historic olfactory heritage.

So subsequent time you’re attempting to review one thing—attempt smelling it!