From biomolecular traces to multisensory experiences: bringing scent reproductions to museums and cultural heritage

Recent advances in biomolecular archaeology have enabled the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odor-active metabolites in archaeological materials, revealing the scents and olfactory environments of the ancient world. These developments offer new opportunities to reconstruct the sensory worlds of the past through their molecular signatures, from perfumery, ritual and medicinal practices to aspects of daily life. Yet their integration into museums and public cultural heritage initiatives remains limited. This paper explores how biomolecular data on past scents can be transformed into multisensory museum experiences, focusing on the Scent of the Afterlife , an olfactory reproduction based on the biomolecular analysis of a 3,500 year old Egyptian mummification balm. Developed collaboratively by archaeologists, chemists, curators, a perfumer, and an olfactory heritage consultant, the project translated chemical evidence into a historically informed scent. Two museological applications are presented: a scented card for mobile diffusion and a fixed scent station integrated into the exhibition Ancient Egypt-Obsessed with Life at the Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus, Denmark. We argue that olfactory reproductions bridge scientific research and cultural heritage, offering tools for education and public outreach. By situating biomolecular data within sensory and curatorial frameworks, this study outlines a pathway toward a multisensory archaeology.