Even after 5,000 years in a sarcophagus, mummified bodies from ancient Egypt still smell quite nice, scientists have discovered. Researchers who examined nine mummies found that though there was some difference in the intensity of their odours,

A new, first-of-its-kind analysis of the scents of nine mummies detected woody, spicy, herbal and rancid notes, among other odors

Scientists used an 'electronic nose' (and good old biological sniffers) to reveal the scents of ancient mummies.

Ancient Egyptian mummified bodies preserved for 5,000 years smell “woody”, “spicy” and “sweet”, according to scientists who used their own senses and electronic noses to examine them. Human “sniffers” were recited to describe the scent in terms of quality, intensity and pleasantness.

Researchers studying well-preserved Egyptian mummies discovered that they smell good. The team was studying nine mummies, some 5,000 years old, that were either in storage or on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

For decades, scientists have been performing every imaginable test to uncover how ancient Egyptian mummies were embalmed, what materials were used, why they stay so well preserved for so long, and more.

Researchers are smelling ancient Egyptian mummies in hopes of shedding light on embalming practices of the past, according to a new study.