A Brief History of Scent, with Atlas Obscura (online)
May 20 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm PDT
$70.00
Sign up: https://www.atlasobscura.com/experiences/scent-history-course
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The history of perfumery is the history of humanity. From the role of incense in religious practices to today’s global perfume trade, the intentional combination of aromatics has been used as a tool for seduction, communication, worship, and commerce since some of the earliest moments of recorded human history.
In this course led by Saskia Wilson-Brown, we’ll trace the relationship between scent and culture through the past, present, and future. We’ll start at the beginning, looking at archeological evidence of scent production from societies ranging from Mesopotamia to Greece, and from Rome to the Islamic Golden Age. We’ll then pivot to the rise of the modern perfume industry, shifting our lens to Europe to explore how scent was used in court, and in the context of the French Revolution, as well as how social shifts created the opportunity for new technologies and innovation in the field. We’ll take a look at an old perfume formula and examine how scientific innovation paved the way for the perfume industry as we know it today, touching on contemporary regulation structures, intellectual property, and language. Finally, we’ll turn to the future of perfumery in a new era of accessibility, looking at current movements within the field; the adoption of technology like VR, AR and AI; and how chemistry creates new creative opportunities. We’ll wrap up with an overview of the field today from micro-niche to olfactory art. By drawing connections across time and space, we’ll cultivate a deep appreciation for the impact that perfumery has had on perceptions of beauty, health, religious beliefs, commerce, identity, and so much more.
Each session will end with plenty of time for questions, and a brief exercise designed to engage our capacity to think about smell.
This course includes three total sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours on three consecutive Monday beginning May 6.
Session 1 (Monday, 5/6, 7-8:30 PM ET)| Ancient Aromatics: Scent in early Christianity, the Arab Golden Age, and beyond
Session 2 (Monday, 5/13, 7-8:30 PM ET)| Modern Times: The European Middle Ages, the French Revolution, and the technology that scaled scent
Session 3 (Monday, 5/20,7-8:30 PM ET)| Now, New, Next: The present-day industry, subversive ideas in scent, and considering the future
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