Have you ever been transported back in time or across the globe in a split second after smelling something vaguely familiar? Do you associate a certain emotion with a particular scent? Have you ever walked by a restaurant and been drawn in by the escaping odors?
These are the stories I want to hear to help inform my research. Personal stories like how I associate patchouli with my mother or honeysuckle with my home add meaning to my research that I cannot get out of a book. Sensory archaeology is not just about studying, it’s about being immersed in the research and considering the wider implications and depths to which sensory concerns affect how we organize our lives.
The ancient Egyptians loved smelling good. There were certainly no “fragrance-free” zones. And there was an industry that must have supported access to the materials that produced the scents they loved the best. What lengths have you gone to purchase or make that perfect smell? What areas of your lives involve the use or production of scent? I want to know!