Scents of the afterlife: Identifying embalming recipes by 'sniffing' the air around Egyptian mummies
If you have ever stood close to an ancient Egyptian mummy, you may remember a distinctive, lingering odor. For a long time, it was assumed that this was simply due to age and decay. However, scientists have discovered that this musty aroma is actually a complex mix of volatile organic compounds (VOC...
Image: Phys.org
If you have ever stood close to an ancient Egyptian mummy, you may remember a distinctive, lingering odor. For a long time, it was assumed that this was simply due to age and decay. However, scientists have discovered that this musty aroma is actually a complex mix of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). What's more, these scents of the afterlife contain clues about the ingredients used to make the balms and when the mummies date from.
Originally published at Phys.org
