Scents of London

Scents of London
by Saskia Wilson-Brown for the Institute for Art and Olfaction
For the University of the Arts London, Study UK, and the British Council’s GREAT campaign.
May, 2026

 

Scents of London interpreted ten memories of the city through scent. For the University of the Arts London, Study UK, and the British Council’s GREAT campaign.

Drawing from her time studying at Central Saint Martins College at University of the Arts London (MA, Fine Art, 2002) Saskia Wilson-Brown explored the impact of London on her creative development through the lens of olfactory memory; interpreting memories of London with ten composed perfumes.

The olfactory works convey aspects of what it was like to live in London at the turn of the millennium, drawing from the artist’s imperfect memory (and rose-hued nostalgia) to interpret and convey her unique experience living in the city. Scents included interpretations of an early morning walk in Hyde Park (green grass, moist air, a leather dog lead), tea with friends in the art studio (clay, black tea), a late night under the neon signs in Soho (lipstick, bright neons, the tang of sweat), a jammy scone (warm bread, marmalade), waiting at the bus stop (rain on cement, cold air), walking home along the Thames at night (silt, diesel fumes), standing in line at a jazz club (leather jacket, cheap perfume metal railings, cold air), a spice shop on Brick Lane (cardamom, cloves, camphor, saffron, patchouli), drinking a G+T in the pub (juniper berry, pepper, lime, old wood), and breathing in the smells of a garden in the rain (roses, earth, green leaves).

Each scent was infused into ceramic beads and exhibited in a glass cloche.

With Philip Scurrah and Lynda Doyle

 

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Scents

Developed with Philip Scurrah and Lynda Doyle

Hyde Park Before Everyone
Damp grass, morning air, the leather from a dog leash

G+T in the Pub
Juniper, lime, greasy wooden bar

Brick Lane Spice Shop
Cadamom, cloves, camphor, saffron, patchouli, wet cardboard

Thames After Dark
River silt, diesel fumes

Soho Neon
Lipstick, neon, puddles, fresh sweat, regret

Club Queue

Leather, cheap perfume, metal railings, cold air, musk

Tea in the Art Studio

Black tea, clay-covered hands

Jammy Scone
Warm scone, marmalade

Rainy Garden
Earth, roses

Morning Wait at the Bus Stop
Fog on cement, a strangers’ perfume