Using Smells in Museums Event Highlights Growing Role of Scent in Cultural Storytelling

The event forms part of the broader International Themed Smell Day program, a global initiative celebrating the use of scent in storytelling, education, and immersive experiences.Using Smells in MuseumsAs museums increasingly embrace multisensory experiences, a new international event will spotlight how scent is transforming visitor engagement, interpretation, and education.

Using Smells in Museums, taking place online on July 25, 2026, will bring together curators, educators, museum professionals, immersive experience designers, and scent specialists from around the world to explore the expanding role of olfactory storytelling in cultural institutions.

Hosted by the Fragrance Alliance Network and organized by museum scent consultants Liam R. Findlay (AromaPrime) and Sofia Collette Ehrich (The Olfactory Contractor), the event will feature six presentations and an expert panel examining how scent can enhance historical interpretation, deepen emotional engagement, and create more memorable visitor experiences.

Sessions will cover topics ranging from scent-based exhibition design and children's learning experiences to multisensory gaming, technological innovation, accessibility, conservation, and risk management. Speakers represent a diverse mix of museums, universities, heritage attractions, and immersive entertainment organizations across North America and Europe.

Notable presentations include discussions on scent integration aboard Glasgow's Tall Ship Glenlee, a botanical scent exhibition at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the development of the world's first multisensory augmented reality game at the Mary Rose Museum.

The program reflects growing interest in olfactory experiences across museums and heritage institutions, where scent is increasingly being used as a powerful interpretive tool alongside visual, auditory, and tactile elements.

The event forms part of the broader International Themed Smell Day program, a global initiative celebrating the use of scent in storytelling, education, and immersive experiences.