Scratch + Sniff Super Human Scents, The Book Club, Shoreditch, London

What/Why:

Prepare to flex your nostrils as Odette Toilette guides you into the mysterious and wonderful world of synthetic smells. From Iso E Super to Galaxolide – with their super-hero style names – you’ll be sniffing away at chemicals which make up much of what we smell today alongside the fragrances which contain them, while learning the hidden stories of the chemical revolution in the 20th century. Plus, how does nervousness around the ‘man-made’ as opposed to the ‘naturals’ relate to other cultural discussions of the fake: from nylon to cylons and counterfeit art? As with all Scratch + Sniff events, no knowledge of scent is required.