Museums are beginning to offer visitors experiences that engage a long-forgotten sense: smell. Thanks to recent advances in biomolecular archaeology, researchers are now able to identify and recreate the scents used in ancient perfumery, medicine, rituals and daily life. This emerging field allows for a deeper, more immersive understanding of past cultures than ever before.
Unlocking the Past Through Molecular Fingerprints
The core of this innovation lies in the discovery that ancient objects retain molecular fingerprints
of past aromatic practices. As reported on , these molecules, preserved within artifacts, provide unprecedented insight into how people lived and interacted with their environments centuries ago. This isn’t simply about identifying ingredients; it’s about reconstructing entire smellscapes
– the complex olfactory environments of the past.
Barbara Huber, an archaeo-chemist at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology and the University of Tübingen, leads an interdisciplinary team that has developed a new workflow for translating this biomolecular data into accessible olfactory recreations. The process, detailed in a recent publication, bridges the gap between scientific research and perfumery practice. This research represents a significant shift in how scientific results can be shared beyond academic publications,
Huber explains.
From Data to Fragrance: A Collaborative Process
The recreation of ancient scents isn’t a straightforward process of replication. It requires a careful collaboration between scientists and perfumers. The workflow begins with a briefing, prepared by Huber, that establishes a link between the scientific data and the art of perfumery. Perfumer Carole Calvez then takes this data and develops formulations that translate ancient chemical signatures into scents suitable for museum environments.
Calvez emphasizes the interpretive nature of the work. The real challenge lies in imagining the scent as a whole,
she states. Biomolecular data provide essential clues, but the perfumer must translate chemical information into a complete and coherent olfactory experience that evokes the complexity of the original material, rather than just its individual components.
This means going beyond simply identifying the presence of a particular molecule and considering how it would have interacted with other scents and the surrounding environment.
Presenting Ancient Scents to the Public
The team has developed several formats for presenting these recreated scents to museum visitors. These include scent cards and dedicated scent stations, allowing visitors to actively engage with the sensory worlds of the past. The goal is to move beyond the visual and tactile experiences traditionally offered by museums and incorporate the often-overlooked sense of smell.
While specific examples of recreated scents weren’t detailed in the provided sources, the research highlights the potential to explore a wide range of historical contexts. The study of these molecular traces allows scientists to understand ancient perfumery practices, identifying the ingredients used in perfumes and shedding light on trade networks and cultural exchanges. Biomolecular insights are also revealing medicinal applications of ancient aromatic practices.
Implications for Archaeology and Museum Studies
The implications of this research extend beyond simply recreating pleasant smells. By analyzing the molecular composition of residues found on pottery and other objects, researchers can gain a more nuanced understanding of ancient rituals, daily life, and even trade routes. The ability to identify specific ingredients used in ancient medicines, for example, could provide valuable insights into the history of pharmacology.
This technology isn’t limited to any one region or time period. The principles of biomolecular archaeology can be applied to artifacts from a variety of cultures and historical contexts. The research team’s work demonstrates a new way to connect with the past, offering a sensory experience that complements traditional archaeological methods and museum displays. The ability to breathe in the past
, as described by Phys.org, represents a significant step forward in our understanding of human history and culture.
The work builds on the idea that artifacts aren’t just visual or tactile objects, but also retain chemical information about their past use. This opens up exciting possibilities for future research and museum exhibits, potentially allowing visitors to experience the scents of ancient Egypt, Rome, or any other civilization where aromatic practices were prevalent.
