From Tomb to Perfume Bottle: The Surprising Science of Mummy Scents

Mummy Perfume — image by Canva

Move Over, Chanel №5 — There’s a New Ancient Fragrance in Town

Step aside, designer perfumes — one of the latest scents hitting the scene is nearly 5,000 years old. Ancient Egyptian mummies are here to challenge your expectations because, as it turns out, they smell incredible. That’s right! According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (undoubtedly a real page-turner), the aroma of the afterlife is far more delightful than you might expect. Who knew the dearly departed could smell so good?

For the first time, scientists conducted a deep dive into the scent of mummies, using chemical analysis and — believe it or not — their noses. Yes, that means someone’s job was literally to sniff ancient corpses. Where do I apply for this position? And more importantly, what qualifies someone for it? Do they measure your nose size to see if you’re a good fit? Is there a rigorous nose-hair maintenance requirement? What if horror movie clichés give you seasonal allergies?

Regardless, the results are in: these mummies carried notes of wood, spice, herbs, smoke, flowers, tea, and, naturally, a bit of dust. Think “great-grandma’s attic meets an ancient apothecary,” with a whisper of classic monster movie vibes. Scientists hope to recreate the fragrance so…