The past isn’t just a collection of dates and stories. it’s a sensory experience. Increasingly, researchers are turning to “olfactory archaeology” – the science of recreating past smells – to bring history to life in a way that textbooks simply can’t. From the scent of ancient Egyptian embalming fluids to the imagined breath of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a growing field is dedicated to understanding how people in the past *experienced* the world around them.
On February 28, 2026, the British newspaper The Guardian reported that a team led by Barbara Huber, a postdoctoral researcher in archaeochemistry at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, successfully recreated the scent of ancient embalming materials from a Canopic jar dating back to around 1450 BC. Huber described the reconstructed fragrance as a “time machine for the nose.” This function exemplifies a broader trend in archaeology, one that’s moved beyond simply studying artifacts to attempting to reconstruct the full sensory world of past civilizations.
The Rise of Sensory Archaeology
For over a decade, archaeologists have been exploring “sensory archaeology,” a discipline focused on recreating not just the form of artifacts, but also the tactile sensations, sounds, and smells of past environments. This represents a shift away from a visually-centric approach to history, aiming instead to reconstruct the complete sensory experience of people who lived in different eras. Advances in biochemical techniques, particularly in organic residue analysis, have made it possible to identify and recreate scents from ancient materials, giving rise to the specialized field of olfactory archaeology.
Huber’s team chemically analyzed residues from the Canopic jar, identifying a variety of aromatic compounds, including beeswax, resin from coniferous trees, and coumarin – a crystalline compound with a vanilla-like scent. Collaborating with a perfumer, they then reconstructed the fragrance using modern olfactory materials that faithfully represent the chemical analysis while remaining safe for public exposure. The resulting scent is described as a warm, honeyed aroma with subtle hints of earthy spices.
The recreated scent is already being experienced by the public. In Denmark, an exhibition on ancient Egypt features scent cards and ceramic vessels containing scented cartridges, allowing visitors to directly experience the aromas of the past. These scent cards are also being distributed to primary and secondary school students learning about ancient civilizations, and will be used in a Canadian exhibition starting in June.
From Viking Towns to Dinosaur Breath
Huber emphasized the power of scent to craft history more tangible, stating, “It can make history feel real. The past wasn’t sterile, it wasn’t quiet. It was a sensory, vivid, and sometimes intense world.”
This isn’t the first time researchers have attempted to recreate ancient smells. The Jorvik Viking Centre in York, England, has been recreating the smells of a Viking-era city since the 1980s. More recently, Liam Findlay of AromaPrime has used fossil evidence and paleontological consultation to recreate the breath of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Still, recent approaches are distinguished by their reliance on chemical analysis, literature research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
“Jorvik was pioneering, but it was largely experiential, entertainment, or about startling visitors,” Huber explained. “Today, museum smells are shifting from theatrical staging to research-based storytelling.”
UCL’s ‘London Intersections’ Exhibition
University College London (UCL) is also contributing to this growing field. A team led by Cecilia Bembibre, a researcher at UCL’s Institute for Sustainable Heritage, will unveil the scents of St. Paul’s Cathedral library and the interior of Queen Elizabeth II’s Rover P5B car as part of the UCL 200th-anniversary exhibition, ‘London Intersections,’ beginning March 26, 2026. The Queen’s car scent was reconstructed through historical research, chemical analysis of the vehicle’s interior air, and interviews with classic car collectors, dating back to a 2023 study.
Bembibre argues that while heritage interpretation remains visually focused, utilizing smell as a tool for understanding can “raise new questions about how we look at the past and discover facets of heritage that might otherwise be lost.”
Huber is now embarking on a new project to recreate the scents of various regions of the Roman Empire. This expanding field of olfactory archaeology promises to continue reshaping our understanding of history, one scent at a time.
Disclaimer: This article discusses historical research and scent recreation. It does not provide medical, financial, or legal advice.
The next step in Huber’s research will be the initial chemical analysis of samples from various Roman sites, with preliminary findings expected in late 2026. What new insights will these ancient aromas reveal? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
