Study shows mummification process left preserved remains smelling sweet and woody In a nutshell Ancient Egyptian mummies emit surprisingly pleasant scents characterized by woody, spicy, and sweet notes,

Even around 5,000 years after their embalming, Strlič and collaborators described the bodies as smelling “pleasant.” This is largely thanks to the materials applied to the mummies, which included scented waxes, coniferous resins and oils made from pine, cedar, and juniper, as well as gum resins such as frankincense and myrrh.

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