According to a study, ancient Egyptian mummies still have a pleasant scent.

 According to a study, ancient Egyptian mummies still have a pleasant scent. .
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Twenty-one hours ago Loftus, Alex BBC News Distribute Conserve AP A tube is held into a sarcophagus by two researchers wearing gloves and white clothing. A bag of air is being fed by the tube. AP Even after 5,000 years in a sarcophagus, mummified bodies from ancient Egypt still smell quite nice, scientists have discovered. Researchers who examined nine mummies found that though there was some difference in the intensity of their odours, all could be described as "woody", "spicy" and "sweet". 

They say recreating the composition of the smells chemically will allow others to experience a mummy's whiff - and help to tell when the bodies inside may be starting to rot. "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," researcher Cecilia Bembibre told BBC Radio 4's Today program. In order to prepare a spirit to enter the afterlife, the ancient Egyptians would surround the body with pleasant smells during the mummification process, which is why pharaohs and members of the nobility were covered in oils, waxes, and balms.
 "In films and books, terrible things happen to those who smell mummified bodies," Dr. Bembibre stated, "We were surprised at the pleasantness of them." The academic study's authors had to get the attention of scent emanating from the sarcophagus without disturbing the mummy within. In order to measure the scent without taking any actual samples, the researchers from UCL and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia did this by inserting a small tube.

 According to Dr. Bembibre, heritage scientists are constantly looking for "non-destructive" methods to learn new things. AP Two researchers bring tiny instruments up to a sarcophagus while wearing gloves and white clothing. AP Dr. Cecilia Bembibre (left) says, "We want to share the experience we had smelling the mummified bodies." Ancient Egypt and the mummification process might be experienced from a whole different angle by visitors who are able to smell the aromas in the museums. Ally Louks, a supervisor of English literature at the University of Cambridge, who focused on the politics of smell for her doctoral dissertation, called this a "really innovative" approach to history communication.

"To engage your nose produces a strong emotional and physical reaction," she stated to the BBC. "We know smells were essential to social, religious and personal practises [in ancient Egypt]," stated Dr. Louks. Another member of the study team, Matija Strlič, told the Associated Press that the smells may even reveal a mummy's social level. "We believe that this approach is potentially of huge interest to other types of museum collections," he stated. The discovery not only offers museum visitors a fresh perspective on mummies through their senses, but it also holds promise for mummy conservationists. 

The researchers employed a method known as gas chromatography to isolate the various scents that blended to create the sarcophagus's aroma. They discovered smells associated with the decomposition of animal fats used in the embalming procedure, which might be a sign that the body is starting to decay. These results will allow us to "practically intervene" in the preservation of the mummies by determining the most effective ways to wrap and store the bodies, according to the research article. "This is useful for conservators who care for this collection [as] we can ensure it reaches future generations," said Dr. Bembibre.

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