What substance was used in ancient Egypt to prepare a body for burial?

In ancient Egypt, the primary substance used for the preservation and preparation of bodies for burial was natron. Natron is a naturally occurring mineral form of sodium carbonate that served multiple purposes in the mummification process. It was primarily used to desiccate the body, effectively removing moisture and helping to prevent decomposition. This was crucial in the Egyptian belief in the afterlife, where preserving the body was seen as vital to ensure a successful journey into the next world.

The use of natron involved several steps, including the extraction of internal organs, which were often treated with natron or placed in canopic jars, and the application of natron to the body, which would remain on the corpse for several weeks to absorb moisture. Once the body was sufficiently dried, it would be wrapped in linen bandages, completing the mummification process.

While myrrh and frankincense were indeed used in ancient times for their aromatic properties and were important in the context of rituals and embalming, they were used more as additives to mask odors rather than as the primary means of preservation like natron. Embalming fluid, a more modern term, doesn't accurately reflect the practices used in ancient Egypt, where natron was the key substance employed in the