Advancing Olfactory Heritage & Museology
Bridging research, museums, and industry to expand how cultural institutions communicate multisensory knowledge.
Why I started The Olfactory Contractor
There was no job title for the work I wanted to do.
My work sits between olfactory heritage, museum practice, and cultural interpretation. Over time, I found myself translating research into exhibitions, educational programs, and public engagement projects, but there was no established profession for my combined skills and expertise.
So I created one.
The Olfactory Contractor was founded to help museums and cultural institutions use smells as a deliberate tool of interpretation. It was also created to support a growing community of researchers, educators, heritage practitioners, and other professionals whose work does not fit neatly within traditional disciplinary boundaries.
I believe knowledge should be shared generously, not gatekept. At the same time, I believe expertise has value. Through research, education, and professional practice, The Olfactory Contractor works to advance and legitimize olfactory heritage and olfactory museology as fields worthy of recognition, investment, and serious consideration within the cultural sector.
Meet the Founder
Sofia Collette Ehrich is an olfactory museologist, researcher, educator, and public speaker. Her work focuses on advancing the fields of olfactory heritage and olfactory museology through research, teaching, and professional practice.
For more than five years, she has worked across the United States and Europe at the intersection of academia, museums, and industry, helping institutions understand how scent can function as a meaningful medium of cultural interpretation.
Sofia specializes in translating interdisciplinary research into practical methodologies, exhibitions, educational programs, and public engagement initiatives. Her work seeks to bridge the gap between emerging scholarship and real-world application, enabling cultural institutions to integrate scent deliberately, ethically, and effectively.
Notably, she served as olfactory events manager for Odeuropa, the European research project dedicated to uncovering and preserving Europe's olfactory heritage. Through this work, she contributed to exhibitions, public events, educational initiatives, and methodological development that continue to shape the growing field of olfactory heritage.
Through The Olfactory Contractor, Sofia continues to advance professional knowledge around scent in museums and cultural heritage while fostering a growing international community of researchers, educators, and practitioners working at the intersections of smell, culture, and heritage interpretation.
Areas of Expertise
Exploring how scent can deepen our understanding of history, culture, place, and memory.
Olfactory Heritage
Advancing the use of scent as an interpretive medium within museums, exhibitions, and cultural institutions.
Olfactory Museology
Exploring how scent can be integrated into museums and cultural institutions as a medium of interpretation.
Public Engagement
Using scent in exhibitions, public programs, and cultural initiatives to deepen public understanding and engagement.
Interpretive Design
Developing scent-based interpretive experiences that connect audiences with history, culture, place, and memory.
Research & Development
Advancing olfactory heritage and museology through research methods and applied professional practice.
Education & Training
Building confidence in olfactory heritage and olfactory museology through courses and professional training.
See the Work in Practice
This capabilities page offers a concise overview of my work across olfactory heritage, olfactory museology, museum interpretation, research, education, and project development. It includes selected projects, areas of practice, research papers and more.
Let's Advance Olfactory Interpretation Together.
I am always interested in connecting with museums, cultural institutions, researchers, educators, and practitioners exploring the role of scent in cultural heritage.