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Smell of mummies -

If you had to guess what an ancient Egyptian mummy smells like, what would come to mind?

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Mummies smell good -

Researchers have been sniffing around in the name of science. According to a February 2025 study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, mummies smell good.

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Egyptian Museum in Cairo -

Researchers from across Europe and Egypt worked with the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to take air samples around each mummy.

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Human 'sniffers' -

The samples underwent chemical analyses and were then tested by “specially trained human ‘sniffers.” Yes, that’s a thing.

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Non-invasive sampling -

To ensure that the samples collected were as non-invasive as possible, scientists placed small tubes around nine mummies, inside the sarcophaguses, without touching the remains.

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Air samples -

The air samples they collected were actually “gas molecules that the remains were still emitting.”

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Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry -

The task to identify the smells’ chemical compounds was conducted using “gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.”

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Descriptive words -

The sniffer team, which mostly consisted of museum employees, was asked to describe the smells with descriptive words to best translate how the bodies of these ancient beings were holding up.

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Identify particular materials -

The group underwent specific training for the task. They were taught to identify particular materials and how to distinguish between the smells of mummies and the museum environment.

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Woody, spicy, and sweet -

The findings are fascinating. Often, the scent was described with words like “woody, spicy, and sweet.”

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Training museum workers -

The project prioritized training museum workers for the task, as their proximity to artifacts and constant engagement can enrich visitors’ experiences.

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Engaging the senses -

Researchers believe that by integrating scent into the museum experience, the glimpse into ancient history becomes much more interesting and layered.

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Expand study -

Researchers hope to expand this study to include more mummies, as the process of mummification also evolved over time and there are likely differences between time periods.

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First mummies -

The first mummies occurred around 5000 BCE. They underwent natural mummification by being buried in hot sand.

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Artificial mummification -

About 2000 years later, artificial mummification gave rise to a much more sophisticated form of mummification, which continued to develop and peaked around 1500 BCE.

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Preparation and transition -

Oils, waxes, resins, and balms were used to treat the corpses in preparation for the mummification process and their transition to the afterlife.

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Indicator of social class -

The quality of the materials, and thus, the differences in smell, is likely a reflection of access based on social class.

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Elites -

According to the research, the bodies of elites were adorned with natural salts and resins from rare herbs.

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Lower social classes -

Salts and other materials were constantly reused for the bodies of people belonging to lower social classes.

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Insightful for many professionals -

This insight into the differences in social class is useful for professionals in several fields, not only conservators.

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Coffin quality -

The coffin quality certainly impacted the preservation of scent for the mummified bodies. The better the packaging, the better the smell held.

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Gilded mask -

Even though it was the oldest of the bunch, a mummy preserved in a gilded mask held higher concentrations of scents in comparison to its counterparts.

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Scents as a general indicator -

In addition to identifying smells to further the museum experience, some odors can actually indicate other important indicators for conservation purposes.

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Mold, bacteria, or microorganisms -

The chemical analyses conducted by the researchers were also able to break down other odors that may indicate the presence of “mold, bacteria, or microorganisms.”

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Fats in the embalming process -

Researchers also identified odors that were related to the “break-down of animal fats.” These fats were used in the embalming process.

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Conversation indicators -

The scent could indicate that the mummy needs some intervention to continue to conserve its remains.

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Scent profile over thousands of years -

Of course, there is an issue of accuracy. After thousands of years, "evaporation, oxidation, and even storage conditions have significantly altered the original scent profile.”

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'Scent of Eternity' -

In a previous study, researchers sought to identify embalming ingredients by analyzing residue from the jar they were stored in. The researchers worked with a perfumer to create a replication of the scent, aptly called 'Scent of Eternity,' which accompanied an exhibition at the Moesgaard Museum in Denmark (pictured).

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Smellscapes -

Researchers are hoping to conduct the same exercise with this research project. The idea is to create "smellscapes" for museum visitors, allowing for a multisensory engagement with history.

Sources: (Scientific American) (BBC) (CNN)

See also: Archaeologists have unearthed the resting place of King Thutmose II

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