Work with me
Research-informed guidance for museums, cultural institutions, and heritage organizations exploring scent as a tool of interpretation.
The Olfactory Contractor helps institutions integrate scent into exhibitions, public programming, and professional practice through consulting, education, project development, and research. Whether you are exploring an initial idea or developing a large-scale initiative, I bring expertise in olfactory heritage, olfactory museology, and museum interpretation to help your project move forward thoughtfully and effectively.
Ways We Can Work Together:
Research-informed support for museums, cultural institutions, and heritage organizations.
Consulting & Strategy
INTERPRETATION • STRATEGY • GUIDANCE
Education & Professional Development
COURSES • LECTURES • PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS
Courses, workshops, lectures, and trainings that help professionals, students, researchers and makers build confidence and capacity around olfactory heritage and olfactory museology.
Exhibition & Project Development
EXHIBITIONS • PROGRAMS • PARTNERSHIPS
Collaborative support for museums, exhibitions, cultural programs, and any public-facing initiatives involving smell.
Consulting & Strategy
Personalized support for integrating smell into your institutional practice.
Whether you’re considering a scent component for an exhibition, seeking guidance on best practices, or exploring how smell can support interpretation, consulting provides expert support at every stage of the process.
Many institutions are interested in using scent but lack access to specialized expertise. My role is to help bridge that gap by translating research into practical, responsible, and achievable approaches that align with your goals, audiences, and institutional context.
Consulting services may include quick advice on:
Exhibition planning, interpretive development, and scent integration strategy
Institutional guidance on accessibility, ethics, and visitor experience
Project review, feasibility assessment, and implementation planning
Project review and feedback session
Starting at $100
Pricing varies based on scope, timeline, and level of support. Flexible options are available to accommodate different project needs and budgets.
Education & Professional Development
Professional courses that build knowledge and confidence around smell interpretation.
Many professionals are curious about scent but are unsure where to begin. Through lectures, workshops, courses, and professional training, I help individuals and organizations develop a deeper understanding of olfactory heritage, olfactory museology, and sensory interpretation.
Programs can be tailored for museum teams, universities, conferences, heritage organizations, and interdisciplinary audiences. Topics range from foundational introductions to advanced discussions of methodology, ethics, accessibility, and implementation.
Education services may include:
Keynote presentations, lectures, and conference contributions
Museum staff training and professional development workshops
University teaching and educational programming
Online and in-person learning experiences tailored to your audience
Pricing by Proposal
Every educational opportunity is different. Fees are determined based on scope with the goal of making knowledge-sharing accessible while still recognizing its value.
Exhibition & Project Development
From research to public experience through project management and guest curation.
Successful smell interpretation projects require more than simply selecting a narrative. They require careful consideration of interpretation, visitor experience, accessibility, implementation, and cultural context.
I work collaboratively with museums and cultural organizations to develop projects that integrate scent meaningfully and responsibly. Depending on the project, this may involve research, concept development, interpretive planning, scent selection support, partner coordination, or ongoing advisory services.
Services may include:
Exhibition and installation development & project management
Scent interpretation and public programming design
Research, narrative development, and content planning
Project advising and collaboration with institutional teams and partners
Custom Project Pricing
Every exhibition, installation, and public program is unique. Project fees are determined based on scope, timeline, technical requirements, and available resources. I am happy to discuss options that align with your goals, capacity, and budget.
What to Expect
Every organization, project, and collaboration is different. Whether you’re developing an exhibition, designing a public program, building institutional knowledge, conducting research, or exploring a new idea, the process is tailored to your specific goals and context. Most projects, however, follow a similar structure designed to create thoughtful, practical, and achievable outcomes.
Discovery Call
A conversation about your goals, questions, timeline, and project needs.
Proposal
A tailored recommendation outlining scope, deliverables, timeline, and investment.
Collaboration
Working together to develop an approach that aligns with your institution and audience.
Delivery
Consulting, training, project development, research, or a combination of services.
Need something different? Every collaboration is unique, and services can be tailored to your institution’s needs.
Research & Thought Leadership
Contributing to & Advancing the Future of Olfactory Heritage
The Olfactory Contractor contributes to the advancement of olfactory heritage and olfactory museology through research, writing, speaking, teaching, and professional service.
As a practitioner working between academia, museums, and industry, Sofia Collette Ehrich is available for advisory boards, conference panels, expert commentary, media interviews, judging panels, and research collaborations relating to olfactory heritage, olfactory museology, scent in museums, and sensory interpretation.
Areas of Contribution
Serving as an expert advisor for committees, advisory boards, and initiatives focused on cultural heritage, museums, and sensory interpretation.
Sharing expertise through speaking and media including conferences, panels, interviews, and public discussions on olfactory heritage and museology.
Advancing professional knowledge through research collaborations, publications, and the development of practical methodologies and frameworks.
Supporting excellence in the field through judging panels, grant review, peer review, and other evaluation opportunities.
Available For
I welcome opportunities to serve as an advisor, speaker, panelist, reviewer, collaborator, or media contributor on topics relating to olfactory heritage, olfactory museology, and scent in cultural heritage.