What do mummies smell like? Woody, spicy and sweet. That's how the smells of mummified bodies were described in a recent study at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo – not bad considering they are around 3,000 years old.
A combination of human 'sniffers' and scientific instruments revealed that the heady smells weren't just from the oils, balms and resins used to preserve the bodies.
The musk also came from the museum's conservation products, and microbial activity on the mummies as they deteriorate.
The researchers plan to recreate the aroma for museum visitors, and say that their work could provide a non-invasive way to monitor a mummy's condition.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Simone Faulkner, via email) 'What do mummies smell like?'
To submit your questions, email us at questions@sciencefocus.com, or message our Facebook, X, or Instagram pages (don't forget to include your name and location).
Check out our ultimate fun facts page for more mind-blowing science
Read more: