Why 5,000-year-old Egyptian mummies smell sweet and spicy

How do Egyptian mummies smell? Scientists now have an answer to this question, and believe it or not, these ancient corpses—dating back as far as 5,000 years—smell rather pleasant.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the mummies emit "woody," "spicy," and sometimes "sweet" aromas.

"In films and books, terrible things happen to those who smell mummified bodies," Cecilia Bembibre, director of research at University College London's Institute for Sustainable Heritage was quoted as saying by BBC. "We were surprised at how pleasant they actually smell."


Olfactory analysis revealed floral undertones, possibly originating from embalming materials like pine and juniper resins. The study, which examined nine mummies up to 5,000 years old from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, used non-invasive techniques to distinguish between preservation materials and signs of deterioration.

The findings suggest sophisticated embalming methods and provide insights into ancient Egyptian social hierarchies. In Egyptian culture, pleasant aromas symbolized purity and divinity, whereas foul smells indicated decomposition.

Professor Matija Strlic noted the absence of decay indicators, suggesting excellent preservation conditions at the museum. "It potentially tells us what social class a mummy belonged to, offering valuable information not just to conservators, but also to curators and archaeologists," Strlic explained.

Barbara Huber, from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, emphasized that while the study sheds light on ancient preservation techniques, the current scent of the mummies has likely evolved due to chemical changes over millennia.