Ancient Egyptian Mummies Found to Emit Pleasant Aromas

New research reveals woody, spicy, and sweet scents from mummies, offering insights into embalming practices and museum preservation.

A study analyzed the scent profiles of nine mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, identifying woody, spicy, and sweet aromas.
Researchers attribute these scents to ancient embalming materials like resins and oils, as well as modern conservation treatments and natural preservation processes.
Mummies displayed in sealed museum cases exhibited richer and more complex scent profiles than those kept in storage, highlighting the role of display environments in preserving ancient aromas.
The study found standardized embalming practices in Late Period mummies, while unique sweet scents in higher-status mummies suggest the use of more expensive materials.
The findings provide practical applications for museum conservation and aim to recreate these scent profiles to enhance visitor experiences in the future.