In 2023, scientists uncovered the complex compounds used in the balms for mummifying an ancient Egyptian noblewoman's organs, revealing recipes that involved ingredients uncommon for the region. The researchers collaborated with a perfumer to re-create what co-author Barbara Huber, affiliated with the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology and the University of Tübingen, termed 'the scent of eternity.' This aromatic reconstruction is now being integrated into museum exhibits on ancient Egypt, aiming to enhance visitor understanding of embalming practices.
Historical accounts suggest that Egyptian embalming started in the Predynastic Period, spurred by the realization that the desert's dry heat naturally preserved bodies buried there. Over time, this led to preservation becoming intertwined with religious beliefs. As burials shifted from desert sands to rock tombs, new embalming techniques using chemicals like natron salts and plant-based resins emerged.
The mummification process initially involved placing the body on a table and extracting the internal organs, saving the heart. As described by Herodotus, an iron hook was used through the nostrils to remove part of the brain, with drugs injected to dissolve the rest. The body cavity was subsequently rinsed with spices and palm wine, then stitched up with aromatic plants and spices, alongside bags of natron, left inside. The body dehydrated for 40 days before the dried organs were either stored in canopic jars or returned to the body. The corpse was then wrapped in layers of linen, interlaced with protective amulets, coated with a resin to ward off moisture, and placed in a sealed coffin.