Innovative Endeavor To Create a Sensory Bridge to the Ancient Past

Revolutionary Initiative to Recreate an Olfactory Link to the Distant Past

A rendition of an ancient Egyptian mummification fragrance dating back 3500 years has been successfully produced, unveiling invaluable insights into historical embalming methodologies and intricate trade networks. This evocative scent, slated to be unveiled at the esteemed Moesgaard Museum, aspires to transport patrons on a captivating journey through time.

In a pioneering effort to construct a sensory conduit to bygone epochs, a distinguished group of scholars led by Barbara Huber from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology has masterminded the recreation of an aroma employed during the mummification of a prominent Egyptian woman over three and a half millennia ago.

Termed “the essence of eternity,” this ancient bouquet will be showcased at Denmark’s Moesgaard Museum within an imminent exhibition. Here, visitors will be presented with an exceptional sensory encounter—an opportunity to tangibly encounter an ambient scent hailing from antiquity and to catch a fleeting glimpse of the age-old Egyptian practice of mummification.

Advancements in Grasping the Art of Mummification

The research team centered their investigation on the substances employed in the embalming process of the noblewoman Senetnay, belonging to the 18th dynasty around 1450 BCE. Employing sophisticated analytical methodologies such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, High-Temperature Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, the researchers meticulously reconstructed the elements used to preserve and perfume Senetnay for eternity.

Dammar resin, an integral ingredient in the embalming procedure, situated beside a vial containing the reconstructed ancient fragrance by perfumer Carole Calvez, founded upon scientific analysis. Notably, the team’s efforts involved an analysis of balm residues sourced from two canopic jars discovered in the mummification equipment of Senetnay. These jars were originally unearthed more than a century ago by Howard Carter in Tomb KV42 within the Valley of the Kings. Presently, these relics repose within the Museum August Kestner in Hannover, Germany. The team discerned a blend of beeswax, plant oils, fats, bitumen, Pinaceae resins (likely from larch trees), a balsamic essence, and dammar or Pistacia tree resin within the balms.

Historical Gleanings and Trade Implications

“These intricate and varied constituents, exclusive to this early chronological juncture, provide a fresh comprehension of the intricate embalming customs and Egypt’s extensive trade routes,” affirms Christian E. Loeben, an Egyptologist and curator at the Museum August Kestner.

“Our methodologies also afford vital insights into the ingredients for balms, for which scant information is accessible in the contemporaneous ancient Egyptian textual records,” Huber observes.

Furthermore, the endeavor underscores the trade connections of ancient Egyptians during the 2nd millennium BCE. “The ingredients within the balm unequivocally indicate that the ancient Egyptians procured materials from beyond their dominion from an early date,” states Prof. Nicole Boivin, a senior researcher on the project. “The array of imported elements in her balm also underscores Senetnay’s significance as a pivotal figure within the pharaoh’s inner circle.”

Among the imported components featured was larch tree resin, likely originating from the northern Mediterranean, and potentially dammar resin, deriving solely from trees within Southeast Asian tropical forests. Confirmation of the presence of dammar resin, comparable to balms recently identified in Saqqara, dating back to the 1st millennium BCE, would propose that the ancient Egyptians had access to this Southeast Asian resin through long-distance trade almost a millennium earlier than previously presumed.

Recreation and Exhibition of the Fragrance

Collaborating closely with French perfumer Carole Calvez and sensory museologist Sofia Collette Ehrich, the research team meticulously reconstructed the fragrance based on their analytical findings.

“‘The essence of eternity’ symbolizes more than just the scent of the mummification process,” Huber accentuates. “It encapsulates the profound cultural, historical, and spiritual import of Ancient Egyptian mortuary traditions.”

In crafting this aroma for presentation within a museum, the team anticipates providing a fully immersive, multisensory engagement for visitors. This endeavor not only establishes a bridge across profound temporal chasms but also facilitates enhanced participation for visually impaired individuals in comprehending Egypt’s historical legacy. Their innovative approach not only connects epochs but also renders recent research on ancient mummification more accessible to a wider audience.

For a more comprehensive exploration of this study, refer to “The Fragrance of the Afterlife: Constituents of Ancient Egyptian Mummification Balms,” authored by B. Huber, S. Hammann, C. E. Loeben, D. K. Jha, D. G. Vassão, T. Larsen, R. N. Spengler, D. Q. Fuller, P. Roberts, T. Devièse, and N. Boivin. This study was published on 31st August 2023 in Scientific Reports, with a DOI of 10.1038/s41598-023-39393-y.

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• Scientific Reports – Biomolecular characterization of 3500-year-old ancient Egyptian mummification balms