Despite having been buried in their tombs for thousands of years, ancient Egyptian mummies still have nice smells! Scientists have discovered that the mummies have "woody," "spicy," and "sweet" aromas. This finding has led scientists to investigate the mummification scents further.

Scientists from University College London (UCL) and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia examined the smell of nine mummies with great care. As they could not open the mummies or remove physical samples, they employed a technique known as gas chromatography. This enabled them to capture the odors in a small tube without disturbing the bodies.

How do mummies smell nice?

The ancient Egyptians had a belief in getting the dead ready for the afterlife as best as they could. The pharaohs and nobles were treated with special balms, waxes, and oils, which preserved their bodies and left behind pleasant odors.

Dr. Cecilia Bembibre, one of the researchers, said, "We were surprised at the pleasantness of them." In movies, smelling a mummy is often shown as dangerous, but in reality, these ancient bodies still carry the fragrance of their burial rituals.

In order to enable others to smell this ancient aroma, researchers are attempting to recreate the odor and present it at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Visitors will be able to sniff what the ancient Egyptians felt during mummification!

Dr. Bembibre said, "We want to share the experience we had smelling the mummified bodies, so we're reconstructing the smell to be presented in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo."

English literature supervisor at the University of Cambridge, Ally Louks, described the methodology as "really innovative" when she described the role played by smell in history and culture. It is important because it helps individuals to engage emotionally with the past.

Can a mummy's smell show its social status?

Another thrilling find is that mummies can have varying smells based on their social status. One of the authors of the study, Dr. Matija Strlič, proposed that some smells could show if a mummy belonged to the royal class or a commoner. This would provide historians with a new method of interpreting ancient Egyptian society.

This study isn't solely about curiosity—it also assists in the preservation of mummies. Researchers discovered that a few of the odors were due to the degradation of animal fats used in the body preservation process. This might be an indication that the body is starting to decompose.

By knowing these odors, conservators can better preserve mummies so that they can be kept for generations to come. Dr. Bembibre said, "This is useful for conservators who care for this collection [as] we can ensure it reaches future generations."

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