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'Extinct smells' exhibition


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The world's first exhibition of 'extinct and impossible' smells is under way, from the metallic fallout of the first atomic bomb to the aroma of cloves and oranges from the first aid kit of a medieval plague doctor.

The acrid reek of a blazing meteor impact, the sweaty bouquet of a space station, the hothouse aroma of a Victorian greenhouse are also there for the smelling at the Reg Vardy Gallery, University of Sunderland.

The aromatic exhibition has drawn on the efforts of perfumers, chemists, botanists and a Nasa scientist.

There is also the smell of Cleopatra's hair, based on an incense that was popular among ancient Egyptians containing raisins, an evergreen called Cassia, and wine. The Soviet Mir space station, which burnt up in the atmosphere in 2001, smells of formaldehyde, charred material (the space station caught fire) and a strong pong of astronaut BO. Among the stranger smells is the "surface of the sun."

"It is hard to sum up. It is an atmospheric smell, like walking into a room when the sun has been pouring in," says Blackson. "It gives a freshness, a sun kissed feel with a bit of metal. If you can say something smells hot, this is it."

"There's also some extinct flowers," adds Blackson. "Some have been gone for hundreds of years, whilst others have only been extinct for the last 30, due to things like deforestation."
mischabarrett

3 responses // 'Extinct smells' exhibition

  • very interesting. i hope the exibit makes its way to the us.
    stepphtarnovetch
  • What a unique exhibition. Some people may find it a bit weird, but I personally wouldn't mind going to see (or, rather, smell) it.
    NcSchu
  • There's a museum in York, UK, called the Jorvic Centre, which takes you around a medieval British village, complete with smells! It's brilliant... but stinky.
    mischabarrett

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