Odours Collection

The Romance of Perfume: Ancient Egypt (colour litho)
6032772 The Romance of Perfume: Ancient Egypt (colour litho) by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ancient Egypt)

Meeting of the Archaeological Institute at Edinburgh (engraving)
2772335 Meeting of the Archaeological Institute at Edinburgh (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Meeting of the Archaeological Institute at Edinburgh)

WW2 Army cookery school, June 1941. Women wearing gas masks while watching a cookery demonstration

Little girl smelling flowers

Water purifier. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of coconut shell charcoal from a water purification filter. The charcoal removes odours and gases from water passed through it

Cuernua (Caralluma burchardii burchardii) close-up of flower, fly attracted to flowers that smell like rotten meat, contributing to pollination, Canary Islands

Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga carnaria) adult female, laying eggs inside Carrion Flower (Stapelia hirsuta), flowers smell like rotten meat to attract pollinators

Olfactory epithelium, artwork
Olfactory epithelium. Computer artwork showing the structure of the specialised layer of tissue that lines the inside of the nasal cavity and is involved in smell

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The Romance of Odours: From Ancient Egypt's perfumed burials to modern-day discoveries, the allure of scents has captivated us throughout history. Witness the meeting of archaeologists in Edinburgh pondering the mysteries of ancient fragrances (Meeting of the Archaeological Institute at Edinburgh, engraving). In times of war, the sense of smell took on new importance, as seen in this WW2 Army cookery school where women donned gas masks to prepare meals (WW2 Army cookery school, June 1941). Nature's perfume can be found in the simplest of moments, like a little girl's delight as she inhales the sweet scent of flowers (Little girl smelling flowers). But even in the wilderness, the call is strong. Observe the golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis, Callospermophilus lateralis) as it begs for food in Banff National Park (Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada). In the realm of science, the intricacies of the olfactory epithelium continue to fascinate (artwork). Yet, nature's perfumes can be deceiving. Consider the carrion flower (Stapelia hirsuta), whose putrid smell attracts flies (Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga carnaria) for pollination (Cuernua, Caralluma burchardii burchardii, close-up of flower). The circle of life continues, as these flies lay their eggs inside the carrion flower, ensuring the next generation's survival. Even water, essential for life, can have its own unique scent, as seen in this water purifier. The romance of odours, a captivating journey through the senses.