What’s that smell?
What lies beneath.
Mortuary Smells
I often get asked, what does the mortuary smell like? Honestly, it doesn’t really have a smell, or not one that you might think. Our funeral home is not in a typical building. We have a smaller space, mixed in to other commercial buildings. So for me, when I first started, it wasn’t any different from any other work place. If you have worked in any building, you know they all smell a bit different, and you probably wouldn’t even know we have coolers full of people in the back. We typically have a nice smelling wax burner on in the front, and we clean regularly. It smells nice, I think. Until you move to the back.
Ah, yes, the back. Behind the scenes of the mortuary. In our back, we have the garage space were we keep the van and coach. There is storage of urns, a few caskets, cleaning supplies, linens, a back office, a tool bench, small laundry room, oh, and 2 large coolers. We have capacity to house 5 bodies. One cooler holds three and the other, two. I learned very early on, everyone has their favorite cooler spot. Some are easier then others to get someone in, depending on if you are alone or have a helper. There are times when we are totally full, and others where we empty out, waiting for the next. This always seems to come in waves, as with anything. Waves of births, and waves of death. All part of the cycle, I think.
Smells that make you go hmmm…
I went into this adventure knowing a little about that I might be getting myself into, as far as smells go. I was fortunate enough, in my undergrad program, we had a cadaver anatomy lab. I was jazzed. I am a hands on learner, and what better way to learn the human body by actually touching, moving, and seeing a body in all its parts. Now, that is a smell I will NEVER forget. There is a difference of the chemicals used for medical/science preservation vs embalming your Grandma for a viewing and burial. It is a smell you just cannot get rid of, lingering in your nose all day.
Death has its own smell. It is unlike anything else out there. It’s distinct. It is almost sweet and musty. Since starting at the mortuary, I have made several pick ups, in various places, and nothing has bothered me so far. I will say, my co-worker does not care to pick up at the coroner’s office when they open their de-comp freezer. I have yet to experience that, but I am sure my time will come. A lot of my career in orthopedics in the operating rooms, and being around wounds, has sort of made me a good candidate for working around dead folks.
An exception to all of the above, under the sink at work. Nope, can’t do it. I went to clean that out the other day, and the smell about knocked me over. I gagged and had to gather my composure to clean up the liquid ant bait that had spilled. So, I guess we all have our thing right? Blood, purge, waste, bring it. Spilled ant bait, hurl.
My favorite mortuary smell…
Yep, there is such a thing! Crazy, right? I was helping out our Director with a body prep for a viewing we were having the next day, and the last thing she did was paint on this thick gel looking substance over the decedent’s face and hands. She looked at me and said “this is my favorite, it smells so good!” Without hesitation, I leaned in and put my nose up close the the jar. I can confirm, that might also be my favorite smell for far in the mortuary. The pleasant smell was of cloves! This thick substance is used on a decedent who has been embalmed, and it helps with a protective barrier on the skin to prevent drying out.
I am sure there will be more on smells the longer I am working here. Every death call is different, and it’s all an experience. I will get to see embalming and cremations, pick up someone from the de-comp freezer, and anything else that comes our way. If I do come across something that is less then pleasant, I have a mask and essential oils at the ready.
