THE SILENT NOTE

IMAGINARY PERFUMERY

[the-silent-note]

LEAD: Scientists have identified the chemicals that produce underarm odor, they reported at a meeting here today. The culprits are two forms of a chemical that produces odors when exposed to certain bacteria.

[the-silent-note]

B.O research #1 ANIMALIC/ WET DOG...

[the-silent-note]

Body Odor research #1: ANIMALIC/ WET DOG

[the-silent-note]

The B.O. wheel

( Back to the article) An "aroma wheel" is a popular visual scheme for diagramming the range of smells that characterize a particular food or beverage. ...

[the-silent-note]

SKUNK SCENT SKETCH: birth tar, patchouli, peru balsam, tulu balsam, saffraleine, aldehyde C14-MNA, clove, coumarin, muscone, ebanol, toscanol, velvione, cashmeran

[the-silent-note]

UNloved scents: skunk

Skunks are known in for their intense and sickening odor emitted by anal scent glands. People are so bothered by the smell, that an entire industry of  myths and wives tales have come around to neutralize the scent. Strong and bitter smelling weed is called skunk as are overly strong perfumes or those that have turned.

I had not come across the scent in years until I went upstate over the summer. I immediately smelled it, even inside our car as we drive along a wood trail. Most of the time the scent is emitted when skunks are run over or attacked by pets.

Strangely I found it comforting. Elements of birch, patchouli, and a sticky sweetness lie atop each other in a complex but certainly strong combination. Much like natural musks, I found skunk to smell best in tiny amounts. I wonder if these would be a way to enjoy this natural musk much the way people love civet, ambergris, and other musks.

[the-silent-note]

INSIDE THE TANNERY...

[the-silent-note]

INSIDE THE TANNERY...

[the-silent-note]

A history of the scent we think of as leather...

[the-silent-note]

BLACK LEATHERETTE scent:

scent sketch: variation on regular LEATHERETTE but with facets of oak moss, black licorice, coumarin, africa stone, furaneol, safraleine...

[the-silent-note]

Artists describe the scents of NYC

I loved looking at all the different scents that are captured in this group, interactive project. Some of my favorite descriptions: 

IF NYC HAD A SMELL IT WOULD BE: Broken Acqua di Parma on cold cement. 

Like sky and rust and money.

Frank Sinatra's B.O. and lox

Metallic urine, fully loaded fries, ash

[the-silent-note]

LEATHERETTE  a perfume...

scent sketch: leather accord,  aldehyde C-12 MNA, iso e super, cloves, opoponax, white pepper, benzoin, tulu balsam, javanol, ebanol, sandal, cashmeran...

[the-silent-note]

Unloved scents: FORMALDEHYDE

I remember reading news about the post Katrina illnesses in survivors who lived in FEMA constructed mobile homes. It seems the building materials were coated with formaldehyde which leaked into the air, causing nausea, headaches, and even cancer. Those living in the houses were exposed to as much formaldehyde as an embalmer would be on the job.

Generally my thoughts of formaldehyde follow dead bodies. The “cleaning” like smell seems overwhelming and highly unpleasant. However the new car smell that so many love also comes largely from formaldehyde. Carmaker’s are loath to admit that formaldehyde coats their seats and interiors. One of our most loved scents actually comes from a toxic and hated scent compound.

[the-silent-note]

visual for TINSEL scent...

[poetryfoundation]

The exhibition Volatile! brings together poetry and scent with complex aromas trapped under cloches, in a book of poems written entirely in scent, and scent-objects inspired by poetry and literature, inviting visitors to experience their sense of smell–and poetry–in a new way.

Online, view David Moltz discussing narrative structure in perfume and a demonstration of Amy Radcliffe’s analogue odor camera.

See and smell the exhibit at the Poetry Foundation Gallery, 61 W Superior Street, Chicago 11–4, Monday–Friday, now through February 19, 2016. 

The building will be closed to the public from December 24–January 4.

[the-silent-note]

TINSEL a perfume:

scent sketch: iso e super, aldehyde C-12 MNA, aldehyde C11, velvione, fir needle, camphor, muscone

[the-silent-note]

TINSEL scent visual