A Conversation with Nezka Pfeifer

In a recent episode of the Internet of Senses Institute Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nezka Pfeifer, curator at the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. Nezka offers a thoughtful and refreshing perspective on how smell can shape museological practice and enrich heritage storytelling.

During our conversation, we explored her curatorial process behind the ambitious and beautifully conceived exhibition Smelling the Bouquet: Plants & Scents in the Garden. We also reflected on a collaborative project we worked on together, Uncovering the Fragrant in the Sachs Museum Mural, a multisensory activity guide that invites visitors to explore the fragrant plants depicted in the museum’s botanical mural.

Nezka’s insights speak to both the challenges and the rewards of working with scent in museum contexts, demonstrating how olfactory approaches can open new pathways for engagement, interpretation, and connection.

You can listen to the full conversation below—or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Interested in working with scent in your institution?
Get in touch to discuss how olfactory storytelling can support your next exhibition or program. I look forward to collaborating—and to continuing the conversation around multisensory cultural heritage.