History of Embalming: Why It Began and Why It’s Being Reconsidered

Embalming is often seen as a standard part of modern funerals, particularly in the UK, Europe, and North America. For many people, it feels like something that has “always been done.”
In reality, embalming is a relatively recent practice in Western societies, shaped by social change, medical science, war, and the rise of the modern funeral industry.

Understanding why embalming began, how formaldehyde became widely used, and why some people are now choosing alternatives can help individuals and families make informed, thoughtful decisions about end-of-life care.

This article explores the history of embalming, its original purpose, and why it is increasingly questioned from an environmental perspective.

Early Preservation Practices

Long before modern embalming chemicals existed, cultures around the world developed methods to preserve the body after death. These practices were usually spiritual or ceremonial rather than hygienic.

Some of the earliest examples include:

• Ancient Egypt, where bodies were preserved through drying, resins, and wrapping as part of religious beliefs about the afterlife

• Indigenous cultures that used cold climates, smoke, or natural desiccation

• Ancient China and South America, where plant resins, salts, or sealed tombs slowed decomposition

These methods were labour-intensive, symbolic, and reserved for specific individuals, such as royalty or spiritual leaders.

Crucially, they were not designed for public viewing or transportation, which later became key drivers of modern embalming.

The American Civil War and the Rise of Embalming

Modern embalming as we know it today began in the mid-19th century, particularly during the American Civil War (1861–1865).

This period marked a major shift because:

• Soldiers were dying far from home

• Families wanted bodies returned for burial

• Long journeys required temporary preservation

Medical professionals began experimenting with chemical preservation to slow decomposition during transport.

One of the earliest widely used chemicals was arsenic, later replaced by other compounds as knowledge advanced.

The Role of Abraham Lincoln

The embalming of President Abraham Lincoln after his assassination in 1865 played a major role in public acceptance of the practice.

His body was embalmed and transported across the United States for public mourning. Millions viewed his body, and embalming became associated with:

• Respect

• Dignity

• Honour

• Modern science

This moment helped embed embalming into Western funeral culture.

While modern embalming developed rapidly in the United States, the story in the UK and Scotland followed a slower and more cautious path, shaped by different social norms, climate, religion, and public health practices.

Early UK Burial Traditions

Historically, burial practices across England, Wales, and Scotland were simple and local.

Common features included:

• Burial taking place very soon after death, often within 24 hours

• The body laid out at home by family or community members

• Minimal preparation, usually washing and wrapping in a shroud

• Burial in churchyards or local cemeteries

Preservation of the body was not expected or encouraged, and embalming was rare outside of exceptional circumstances.

In cooler climates — particularly in Scotland — the natural temperature often slowed decomposition enough that preservation was unnecessary.

Victorian Attitudes to Death

The biggest shift in UK embalming practices came during the Victorian period (1837–1901).

This era saw:

• Longer mourning rituals

• The rise of formal funerals

• Increased interest in “respectability” and appearance

• Death becoming more medicalised and professionalised

However, even during this time, embalming was far less common in Britain than in the United States.

Open-casket funerals were not culturally embedded in the same way, and burial usually happened quickly.

Transport and the British Empire

One area where embalming did become more relevant was within the context of the British Empire.

Embalming was sometimes used when:

• Bodies needed to be transported long distances

• Soldiers, officials, or colonial administrators died overseas

• Families wished for burial in the UK

These cases were exceptions rather than the norm and helped introduce embalming techniques into British funeral practice.

19th and 20th Century Public Health Concerns

As cities grew during the Industrial Revolution, concerns about sanitation and disease led to new burial regulations.

Key developments included:

• The Burial Act 1857, which regulated burial practices in England and Wales

• The movement of burials away from overcrowded urban churchyards

• Increased involvement of local authorities

While these laws did not require embalming, they contributed to the professionalisation of death care, which later made embalming more visible.

In Scotland, burial and cremation law developed separately, with continued emphasis on public health, dignity, and timely burial rather than preservation.

Why Formaldehyde Was Chosen

By the late 19th century, formaldehyde had replaced earlier chemicals and became the dominant embalming fluid.

It was favoured because it:

• Effectively slows decomposition

• Reduces odour

• Preserves tissues temporarily

• Is relatively inexpensive to produce

Formaldehyde-based embalming fluids became widely adopted in the early 20th century as funeral practices became more standardised.

The Rise of the Funeral Industry

At the same time, the professional funeral industry was expanding.

Embalming became more common due to:

• The growth of funeral homes

• Open-casket viewings becoming culturally normal

• Urbanisation and longer delays before burial or cremation

• A desire to present death as “sanitised” and controlled

Over time, embalming shifted from a practical solution to a cultural expectation, even when not legally required.

During the 20th century, funerals became increasingly managed by professionals rather than families.

This shift included:

• The rise of funeral homes

• Longer delays between death and burial

• Increased use of chapels of rest

• Greater emphasis on presentation

Embalming became normalised, even though it was rarely legally required

As awareness of environmental issues grows, embalming has come under increased scrutiny — not because it is inherently “wrong,” but because it relies on chemicals that interact with soil, water, and ecosystems in ways that are not always well understood by the public.

Most environmental concerns focus on formaldehyde, the primary preservative used in modern embalming.

Why Formaldehyde Raises Concerns

Formaldehyde is a toxic chemical that does not readily break down in soil.

Environmental concerns include:

• Potential soil contamination

• Disruption of soil microorganisms

• Risks to groundwater over time

• Occupational exposure risks for funeral workers

While regulated, its use contrasts sharply with the aims of conservation-focused burial sites.

Several environmental studies examining cemeteries have identified soil chemistry changes associated with conventional burial practices.

Key findings relevant to embalming include:

• Reduced microbial diversity in soils exposed to burial inputs

• Altered nutrient cycling processes

• Slower breakdown of organic matter

While soil can sometimes neutralise contaminants over time, this depends heavily on:

• Soil type (clay, sand, loam)

• Drainage and moisture levels

• Oxygen availability

• Burial depth and density

In contrast, natural burial grounds are typically designed to work with soil biology, allowing natural decomposition to support long-term soil health rather than inhibit it.

Another area of environmental consideration is groundwater protection.

Research into cemetery environments suggests that:

• Fluids from decomposition and burial materials can move vertically through soil

• In certain conditions, contaminants may migrate toward groundwater

• Risks are higher where water tables are shallow or soils drain poorly

It is important to note that:

• There is no single study proving widespread groundwater contamination from embalming

• Risks are described as potential, cumulative, and site-specific

Because of these uncertainties, many environmental planning frameworks recommend a precautionary approach, particularly near:

• Rivers and streams

• Wetlands

• Aquifers

• Conservation landscapes

This approach strongly aligns with natural burial principles, which seek to minimise chemical inputs altogether.

For those who prefer not to embalm, alternatives may include:

• Refrigeration (temporary preservation without chemicals)

• Timely burial or cremation

• Natural burial without preservation

• Shroud burial, where permitted

Funeral directors can usually accommodate these options when discussed in advance.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in how people approach death.

More individuals are:

• Questioning traditional funeral practices

• Seeking simpler, more natural options

• Choosing burial methods aligned with environmental values

This has led to renewed interest in practices that:

• Avoid embalming

• Minimise chemical use

• Allow the body to return naturally to the earth

Natural burial is part of this wider cultural change.

Natural and woodland burial grounds are designed around ecological principles, including:

• Soil regeneration

• Biodiversity protection

• Water conservation

• Minimal chemical intervention

For this reason, many natural burial grounds:

• Do not allow embalmed bodies

• Encourage prompt burial or refrigeration instead

• Support shroud burial or biodegradable coffins

• Aim to let natural decomposition occur without chemical disruption

This is not a rejection of dignity or care, but a different understanding of what respectful treatment of the body can mean.

Interestingly, choosing not to embalm is not a modern invention. In the UK and Scotland, it reflects centuries of burial practice that existed before chemical preservation became common.

For many people, this feels like a return to simplicity, locality, and connection with nature.

Embalming arose from specific historical needs — war, transport, and medical discovery — rather than long-standing tradition. Formaldehyde became dominant because it was effective and convenient, not because it was environmentally benign.

Today, as more people reflect on environmental impact and personal values, embalming is increasingly seen as a choice rather than a necessity. Understanding its history allows families to make decisions that feel informed, respectful, and aligned with both tradition and the natural world.

1. The Impact on Environmental Health from Cemetery Waste
Study on formaldehyde and arsenic from embalmings and their potential impact on soil and groundwater. The Impact on Environmental Health from Cemetery Waste (PMC)

2. A Laboratory Study of the Pollution of Formaldehyde in Cemeteries
Lab research into how formaldehyde may leach through different soils from burial contexts. Study of Formaldehyde Pollution in Cemeteries (Environmental Earth Sciences)

3. Evaluation of Water Contamination Caused by Cemeteries
Although not embalming-specific, this 2024 research assesses physicochemical contamination near cemeteries, which often includes burial-related chemicals. Water Contamination Caused by Cemeteries (Water Journal)

4. Environmental impact assessment of groundwater pollution
Study from Nigeria examining corpses, embalming fluid, and casket materials affecting groundwater. Groundwater Pollution from Cemeteries (PDF)

5. Quantifying contaminants in embalming process effluents
Research looking at formaldehyde and other chemicals released from embalming into wastewater systems (funeral home focus). Contaminants in Embalming Effluents (ScienceDirect Abstract)

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