At the National Museum in Krakow, Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting “Lady with an Ermine” now offers a new sensory dimension: the ability to smell the past. The project, a collaboration between researchers in Poland and Slovenia, aims to recreate the scents of historical objects, drawing on the profound connection between smell and memory.
Imagine the crisp musk of an old book or the sweet sting of a lover’s perfume lingering on a coat collar. These scents, often overlooked, have the power to evoke emotions and transport us to specific moments in time. The research team believes that experiencing the scents associated with historical objects could enhance our understanding and emotional connection to these masterpieces.
The project, named “Odotheka,” focuses on recreating the smells of historical objects, beginning with “Lady with an Ermine.” Utilizing chemical analysis, researchers have developed a scented pen that allows visitors to sniff the painting and experience its unique aroma. The pen captures the scents of walnut wood, used as the base of the painting, and the oil paints employed by da Vinci.
Tomasz Sawoszczuk, the project’s lead researcher at Krakow University of Economics, describes the scent as a “very nice, historical museum smell.” However, he emphasizes that just a single sniff, or at most two, is enough to experience the aroma. The pens require replacement every three to four weeks as the scents dissipate over time.
This project is a groundbreaking endeavor. Museums traditionally view odors as unnecessary, even undesirable, but this initiative opens new avenues for exploration and engagement. The team is also working on recreating the scents of nine other historical objects significant to Polish and Slovenian heritage.
The project’s origins lie in the museum’s request to Sawoszczuk to assess the air quality inside the glass case housing “Lady with an Ermine.” This sparked the idea to capture and recreate the painting’s unique scent. While every object possesses a distinct smell, its evolution over time due to storage conditions and conservation treatments makes capturing the original scent impossible. However, the project aims to trace a timeline of the object’s scent through its history.
The project acknowledges that the scents recreated are not exact replicas of the original aroma but rather a representation of the object’s scent history. It highlights the influence of conservation treatments and historical context on the object’s odor profile.
Beyond the scientific and historical significance, the project emphasizes the potential benefits for individuals who are blind or partially sighted. The addition of tailored smells could provide a more immersive and engaging experience, allowing them to connect with historical objects through a new sensory dimension.
Sawoszczuk and his team are dedicated to exploring the impact of scents on museum visitors. They plan to conduct surveys to understand the emotional responses of visitors, particularly those who are blind or partially sighted, to the scent-enhanced exhibitions. This research aims to assess the effectiveness of incorporating smells into museum experiences and understand how it enhances their overall engagement and understanding of historical objects.
The “Odotheka” project represents a significant step towards creating more immersive and inclusive museum experiences. It leverages the powerful connection between smell and memory, allowing visitors to engage with history on a deeper level. This innovative approach to museum exhibitions holds the potential to revolutionize how we experience and connect with the past.
