Mummy and painted cartonnage of an unknown woman, ca.

Human sniffers worked alongside electronic noses to sample air molecules from sarcophagi without invasive methods.

As it turns out, researchers were pleasantly surprised: the mummies smelled pretty good.

Researchers have discovered that ancient Egyptian mummies emit a pleasant aroma.

Mummy and painted cartonnage of an unknown woman, ca. 850-750 BC. (Photo: Walters Art Museum, viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Notes of pine, cedar, and juniper were also detected.

We were surprised at the pleasantness of them.

Though each indicates a level of pleasantness, these odors are unquestionably distinct.

Researchers have discovered that ancient Egyptian mummies emit a pleasant aroma.

Mummy and painted cartonnage of an unknown woman, ca. 850-750 BC. (Photo: Walters Art Museum, viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Matija Strlic, a chemist at the University of Ljubljana, made the same observation.

It was absolutely mind-boggling that the nine mummies smell so differently, shetellsSmithsonian Magazine.

The disparity in odor, however, could offer critical insights into ancient Egyptian hierarchies and culture.

Researchers have discovered that ancient Egyptian mummies emit a pleasant aroma.

Mummy of a man with boots, leg guards, and breastplate. (Photo: Dada, viaWikimedia Commons,GNU Free Documentation License)

According to researchers, ancient Egyptian mummies smell nice.

Mummy of a man with boots, leg guards, and breastplate.

Ancient Egypt Gallery, British Museum, London.

Researchers have discovered that ancient Egyptian mummies emit a pleasant aroma.

Ancient Egypt Gallery, British Museum, London. (Photo: Gary Todd, viaWikimedia Commons,CC0 1.0)

Researchers have discovered that ancient Egyptian mummies emit a pleasant aroma.

Ancient Egypt Gallery, British Museum, London. (Photo: Gary Todd, viaWikimedia Commons,CC0 1.0)