Researchers Analyze the Shocking Smells of Historical Egyptian Mummies 

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

A global workforce of researchers has a shocking reply: woody, spicy, and candy (however in case you’re inexplicably interested by issues that scent like rotting our bodies, check out the corpse flower). As detailed in a research printed at present within the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the researchers used standard scientific strategies along with skilled human “sniffers” to research the scents of historical 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 specialists 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 Faculty London (UCL) and lead writer on the research, mentioned 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 information to complement the museum exhibition of mummified our bodies.”

Although aromas are invisible to the human eye, they’re really chemical molecules. Because of this, Strlič and his workforce used gasoline chromatography (a way that measures parts in a pattern) and mass spectrometry (a way 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. 

By way of the analyses, the researchers categorized whether or not the smells got here from the traditional mummification method, trendy 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 shocking, on condition that myrrh, frankincense, and tree resins—comparable to 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 grasp the previous,” mentioned Cecilia Bembibre, a heritage scientist from UCL, who additionally participated within the research. 

“To the traditional Egyptians, mummification was an vital mortuary observe geared toward preserving the physique and soul for the afterlife by way of 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 completely 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 dangerous smells signaled corruption and (maybe most precisely) decay, in line with the researchers. 

The workforce’s method might encourage museums to entertain guests with odorous options comparable to smellscapes. In reality, the researchers now plan to reconstruct the scent of historical mummified our bodies with a view to share this nontraditional method to finding out Egyptian mummies, in addition to spotlight an historical olfactory heritage.

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