What We Covered in May: The Olfactory Contractor Monthly
Hello and Welcome,
If you are new here—thank you for joining The Olfactory Contractor. I am so glad you have joined this growing community of museum professionals, educators, artists, and researchers interested in scent, storytelling, and a multisensory approach to cultural heritage.
This newsletter is a space where I share recent writing, projects, and learning opportunities related to the Olfactory Contractor. Below is a short roundup of what I have been working on this month, along with an update on upcoming courses.
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New on the Blog
Nosetalgia: On Scent, Memory, and the Smells We Do Not Want to Lose: A personal and intellectual exploration of nosetalgia: the powerful, often involuntary experience of scent-triggered memory. The post covers the concept’s three dimensions of collecting, sharing, and connecting, the cultural projects it has inspired, and the 2023 Kunstlicht Journal issue I co-edited dedicated entirely to smell, art, and memory. If you have ever been transported somewhere instantly by a smell, this one is for you.
International Themed Smell Day is July 11!: July 11 is the inaugural International Themed Smell Day, established by themed attraction designer Liam R. Findlay to celebrate the creative and pioneering uses of smell in theme parks, museums, and cultural experiences. The blog post introduces the day, its history, and how to get involved, including the Using Smells in Museums online event on July 25 that I am co-hosting with Liam in collaboration with the Fragrance Alliance Network.
The Future of Smell in Gaming: A Conversation with Sam Wisniewski & Sarah Socia: Digital experiences are becoming our most common interactions with the world, yet they still leave out one of our most powerful senses. In this podcast conversation with Sam Wisniewski and Sarah Socia of OVR Technology, we explored how scent is beginning to transform gaming and virtual reality. From the engineering challenge of making smells disappear as quickly as they appear, to the possibility of digitally native scents designed specifically for virtual worlds, this is a fascinating window into where olfactory technology is heading. Essential listening for anyone interested in the future of sensory media.
Make sure to follow The Olfactory Contractor on Instagram (@olfactorycontractor) to see more interesting content like what you see below!
Courses & Teaching: Collaboration with the Fragrance Alliance Network
We have some classes coming up hosted by the Fragrance Alliance Network. Registration information below.
Introduction to Olfactory Storytelling & Olfactory Museology (Online)
July 16, 2026 | 12:00 – 3:00 PM EDT | Online | $150
The crash course in olfactory museology is back! This three-hour session introduces how scent can support cultural interpretation and public engagement. Combining key theory, ethics, and practical design strategies into an accessible foundation for olfactory storytelling, this course provides you with the framework to start your own projects. If you missed my class in May, this is your chance! Register here!
Using Smells in Museums: An International Themed Smell Day Online Event
July 25, 2026 | 12:00 – 3:30 PM EDT | Online | $25
Join us on July 25 for Using Smells in Museums: An International Themed Smell Day Online Event, a special global gathering in collaboration with the Fragrance Alliance Network. This three-and-a-half-hour online event brings together practitioners and enthusiasts from around the world to explore how scent can be used in museum and cultural heritage contexts. Through talks, discussions, and shared examples, we’ll look at the creative, practical, and interpretive possibilities of working with smell—while connecting with an international community interested in multisensory storytelling. Get your tickets here and the full program with times here! All proceeds from the event go to support the educational efforts of the Fragrance Alliance Network.
Thank you again for being here and for your interest in olfactory storytelling. I’m looking forward to sharing more writing, case studies, and course announcements with you next month.
Make sure you subscribe for future newsletters here.
Warmly,
Sofia Collette Ehrich
Founder, The Olfactory Contractor
Questions? Interested in Learning More?
Do not hesitate to reach out via my contact page if you have questions.
Interested in learning more? Check out my blog post on Recommended Smell Culture Resources to dive deeper into the world of olfactory museology and become familiar with more trailblazers of this field.
