ABSTRACT
In recent years, contemporary artists have been inciting viewers to interact with works of art through their sense of smell (for example, Peter de Cupere, https://www.peterdecupere.net). There have also been collaborations between museums and fragrance companies to foster the recognition of perfumes as an art form (e.g. the brief life of the Center for Olfactory Art at the Museum of Art and Design), and efforts to incorporate scent in exhibition design or programming (Scent Opera at the Guggenheim) in order to evoke a more immersive experience. However, the educational dimension of this medium remains relatively unexplored. This chapter examines the role of olfaction in connecting with and learning about works of art, and suggests applications that museum educators might craft as meaningful scent-based experiences in museum galleries. Moreover, it will tackle the following questions: how is scent relevant to the museum experience? How can we as museum educators anchor visitors in their sensory experience? What are the challenges when working with this modality?
