Preserved in Scent – The Poetry of Science todayheadline

In the chambers
of the ancient,
oils and waxes
thread through corridors
of stone –
spices and balms
bind soul to sand.
An alchemy of preservation
etched into the linen’s
tender hold.
Scents linger –
spicy,
woody,
sweet.
Guided by tradition’s hand
these fragrances revive
the breath of distant times,
anchoring the lives
within the silent sentinels
we know today.

This poem is inspired by recent research, which has found that Ancient Egyptian mummies still smell nice.

Ancient Egyptian mummification is a fascinating process, intended not just for the preservation of the body, but also of the soul for eternity. This ritual involved an intricate method of embalming that utilised various oils, waxes, and balms. Historically, most research into these mummified bodies has been carried out on collections housed in European museums. However, a new study turns the focus closer to the source – the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The researchers aimed to discover if the scents currently emanating from these ancient bodies could still reflect the original embalming materials used thousands of years ago, and the value this might hold for understanding and preserving these collections.

This investigation employed a combination of sensory panel analyses, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry (GC-MS-O), microbiological studies, and historical research to analyse the smells. The results revealed a variety of odours, described as ‘woody’, ‘spicy’, and ‘sweet’, which are consistent across all samples. The GC-MS-O was pivotal in distinguishing four distinct categories of volatile substances: those from original mummification materials, plant oils used in later conservation efforts, synthetic pesticides, and by-products of microbial deterioration. The research highlighted the complexities of pinpointing the exact origins of these smells, especially due to the use of modern insect repellents that share similar compositions with ancient embalming substances. Significantly, the study identified clusters of chemical and olfactory profiles that correlate with specific archaeological periods and conservation treatments, offering new insights into the materiality and historical contexts of these mummies.