IAO Library
Reference Library, Reading Room, Perfume Collection and more
Ongoing
About IAO Library
The IAO Library is a reference library that collects books, perfumes, aromatic objects, and ephemera related to scent, with an emphasis on 20th century perfume and olfactory art.
The objects in the IAO Library have been collected since the Institute for Art and Olfaction held its first public event in 2012. In early 2021, the library received a substantial influx of materials bequeathed by Conor McTeague – a friend of the IAO and an irreplaceable advocate for the cultural value of perfume. It is in his honor that we embarked upon the project of cataloging his collection, and incorporating it into our existing collection.
Between 2021 and 2023, a team of volunteers led by Daniel Krasofki (with the input of Saskia Wilson-Brown, Minetta Rogers and other IAO employees) painstakingly entered every bit of information that was publicly accessible.
In 2022, the Library was conceptually expanded with the insight of Anna Gerber (Hurry Up We’re Dreaming), and in 2023, the team was joined by Charles Rosenberg. Starting as a volunteer before officially joining the team, Charles oversaw the process of organizing the collection of books into a formal library, using the Library of Congress Classification system.
The result is an interconnected constellation of books, perfumes, aromatic artifacts, scent wheels, board games, artist publications, and other scent-related ephemera, that emphasizes 2oth century perfumery, material culture, experimental applications (olfactory art), and – most importantly – the creative potential of smell.
Our collection currently holds:
1,330+ perfumes
590+ books and artist publications
80+ reference aromatics
+ View the collection data on Google Sheets
The IAO Library is a small part of a larger ecosystem of knowledge. Some other archives and libraries of note include:
+ Aftel Archive, Berkeley – learn more
+ Annette Green Fragrance Archive at FIDM, Los Angeles – learn more
+ Library Of Olfactive Material, Glasgow – learn more
+ Olfactory Art Keller Library, New York – learn more
+ Osmothèque, Versailles – learn more
+ More to come.
PHOTOS FROM THE PROCESS
TEAM
The IAO Library is overseen by the IAO team, in alphabetical order:
Charles Rosenberg – Curator
Daniel Krasofski – IAO Board Member
Julianne Lee – IAO Board Member
Minetta Rogers – IAO Director of Operations
Saskia Wilson-Brown – IAO Executive Director
With the help of our amazing volunteers:
Chelley Maple
Chloe Gordon
Connie DiPronio
Devon Courtney Knight
Dusty Howard
Elizabeth Connors
Elliot Roth
Kevi Walsh
Max Sternbaum
Rhiannon McGavin
Shelley Arnold
Simon Lee
Sofia Ehrich
And special thanks to:
Anna Gerber
Daniel P Murphy
Shelley Ray
Maxxe Sternbaum
Megan Sallabedra