What Is the Difference Between Embalming and Natural Burial?
When it comes to death care, embalming and natural burial represent two very different ways of saying goodbye. One preserves the body through chemicals and ritual display. The other invites the earth to take the body back as quickly and gently as possible.
Both methods have their place in modern death care. Let's learn about both:
What Is Embalming?
Embalming is a method of temporarily preserving a body after death. It replaces blood and fluids with a chemical solution, usually formaldehyde-based, to delay decomposition and restore a lifelike appearance.
Real body undergoing embalming process
Key Steps in Embalming:
Arterial Injection: A preservative is pumped through the arteries to reach most of the body.
Cavity Treatment: Internal fluids in the chest and abdomen are removed and replaced with stronger preservatives.
Surface Treatments: Wounds or trauma sites may be disinfected, stitched, or sealed.
Purpose of Embalming:
Preserve the body for viewings and open-casket funerals
Restore natural appearance and skin tone
Allow more time between death and burial
Timing:
Embalming is typically done within 24 to 48 hours of death and can extend the viewing period by several days or more.
Environmental Impact:
Embalming fluid contains toxic chemicals that may leach into the soil
Metal caskets and concrete vaults slow decomposition even further
Overall, embalming contributes to higher ecological harm.
What Is Natural Burial?
Natural burial, also known as green burial, rejects chemical preservation entirely. Instead, the goal is to return the body to the earth with minimal disruption.
Key Steps in Natural Burial:
No embalming: The body is kept cold or buried quickly
Simple containers: Biodegradable shrouds or basic wooden/wicker caskets
Minimal interference: No concrete vaults, grave liners, or synthetic materials
Purpose of Natural Burial:
Facilitate rapid, natural decomposition
Minimize environmental impact
Honor the body’s return to the soil without resistance
Real natural burial taking place
Purpose of Natural Burial:
Facilitate rapid, natural decomposition
Minimize environmental impact
Honor the body’s return to the soil without resistance
Timing:
Bodies are typically buried within 24 to 72 hours. Refrigeration may be used briefly if needed.
Environmental Impact:
No chemicals
Materials biodegrade naturally
Some green cemeteries incorporate native plants and wildlife restoration
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Embalming | Natural Burial |
|---|---|---|
| Preservation | Yes, with chemicals | No preservation |
| Materials | Metal/wood caskets, vaults | Biodegradable shrouds or caskets |
| Chemicals Used | Formaldehyde-based solutions | None |
| Decomposition Speed | Slower | Faster |
| Environmental Impact | Higher | Minimal |
| Typical Time to Burial | Longer (viewings, services) | Sooner (often within 1–3 days) |
Historical and Cultural Context
Embalming became common in North America during the Civil War when fallen soldiers were preserved for transport home. Over time, it became part of the standard funeral process, particularly in the U.S. and Canada.
Natural Burial was once the norm. Before industrialized death care, bodies were typically buried quickly and without preservatives. Today, natural burial has re-emerged as an eco-conscious and emotionally resonant choice.
Writing Burial Practices in Horror Fiction
The way a body is treated after death can say a lot about the world you’re writing. Here’s how to use embalming and natural burial as tools in your storytelling:
Preservation vs. surrender: Embalming suggests control, resistance, and appearance. Natural burial suggests return, decay, and acceptance.
Settings vary: A modern embalming room is stark and clinical. A green cemetery feels open, wild, and exposed.
Use burial choice as character development: A family that insists on embalming may fear decay or want to delay grief. A natural burial may reflect deeper spiritual or ecological beliefs.
Subvert expectations: What if a body comes back, but embalming preserved the wrong parts? What if something ancient is awakened by too-quick decomposition?
Whether you're writing a ghost story, eco-horror, or psychological fiction, how your characters treat their dead can shape the emotional tone, and the scares that follow.
