The Unlikely Buddha

For centuries, mummies have captivated the imagination, symbolizing ancient rituals and mysteries. Now, thanks to groundbreaking research led by Professor Matija Strlič and his team, we’re discovering that mummies have another story to tell—through their smells. By analyzing the odors of nine ancient Egyptian mummies, researchers are uncovering secrets about embalming practices, cultural heritage, and even modern conservation. The Science of Smelling Mummies Using advanced techniques like gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-olfactometry (GC-MS-O) combined with trained human sniffers, the team identified a range of odors described as “woody,” “spicy,” “sweet,” and occasionally “rancid.” These smells come from embalming materials such as pine resin, frankincense, and myrrh, as well as microbial activity or modern conservation treatments. The study revealed that stronger or more pleasant aromas often correlate with higher-quality embalming practices, suggesting the so...