Under Wraps! Scientists Recreate ¡®Scent Of Eternity,¡¯ Replicate Balms Used On Egyptian Mummies

In yet another bizarre news story on the internet, scientists have recreated a balm to know what Egyptian mummies apparently smelled like.

In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports on Thursday, researchers successfully pinpointed and replicated the fragrance of a balm used in the intricate mummification of an ancient Egyptian noblewoman circa 1450 BCE.

Scientists Re-Create What Mummies Smell Like

The unique balm that was put on mummies during their mummification consisted of ingredients such as beeswax, plant oil, fats, bitumen, Pinaceae resins, a balsamic substance, and dammar, or Pistacia tree resin, revealing its complex composition.

This ersatz potpourri served as a balm used to preserve a high-ranking Senetnay, a prominent wet nurse, who was bestowed with the title "Ornament of the King" under the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep II.

Remarkably, the scent of this ancient individual, whose mummy has been exceptionally well preserved, has been recreated and will be showcased at the Moesgaard Museum in Denmark this autumn. The recreated smell is being dubbed the "scent of internity." Currently, an inscribed model jar dedicated to Senetnay is already exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum.

Scientists Used The Organic Elements Left On Vacant Jars To Formulate The Scent

Pexel

Writing about the balm, a researcher noted, "These are the richest, most complex balms yet identified for this early time period." They added, "They highlight both the exceptional status of Senetnay and the myriad trade connections of the Egyptians in the second millennium BCE."

Scientists successfully replicated the fragrances using only the residual organic remnants found at the base of the vacant jars. Their findings also revealed that distinct scents were employed in the mummification process, tailored to an individual's societal role.

An expert pointed out for The Guardian, "To our noses, the warm, resinous, pine-like odours of larch might be more reminiscent of cleaning products, and the sulphurous scent of bitumen might put us in mind of asphalt. But for Egyptians, these smells clearly had a host of other meanings related to spirituality and social status."

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.