“Smell is very closely linked to the amygdala and hippocampus—areas in our brain that are responsible for processing memory and emotions,” says Barbara Huber, an archaeochemist at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Jena, Germany, who was not involved in the new study but curated a 2023 exhibit on mummy scents in Denmark. Museums commonly display objects behind glass, Huber says, blocking access to smells that can be crucial to our understanding of historical narratives—especially for “an incredibly aromatic experience” such as mummification. According to Strlič, “In order to truly experience cultural heritage, we need to involve all our senses—because smells and sounds of heritage are inherent” in getting a full experience of the past.
Can we expect to grab a bottle of mummy perfume from the museum shop soon? The researchers say this idea might not be off the table. “Everyone would like to smell like ancient Egyptians: sweet, woody and spicy,” Elnaggar says. “What we’d like to do now is share our experience with museum visitors so they can enjoy it in an exhibition—and even take it home!” {read}