Europe’s Historical Scents Revived, Including ‘The Smell of Hell

Quick Summary

• Researchers from the ODEUROPA initiative used multidisciplinary expertise and AI tools to document and recreate past scents of Europe.
• A searchable database, the ODEUROPA Smell explorer, contains over 2.4 million references to smells from texts and images spanning the 16th to early 20th century.
• At the 2025 World Expo in Japan, recreated scents-including “the smell of hell,” described as sulfur, brimstone, and “a million dead dogs”-were showcased alongside others like frankincense, myrrh, and Amsterdam’s canal scent.
• Subjective cultural differences were noted in reactions; Europeans found some scents attractive while Japanese visitors found them repulsive.
• The researchers developed tools such as an Olfactory Heritage Toolkit to help institutions preserve culturally meaningful smells through exhibits like scratch-and-sniff tours or storytelling kits for museums worldwide.
• Japan inspired some aspects of this project with its focus on documenting notable scent-based landscapes since 2001 under its Ministry of Surroundings initiatives.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This innovative effort highlights how technology can bridge sensory experiences across centuries by preserving olfactory heritage-a dimension often overlooked in conventional historical methods such as written or visual records. For India-which boasts a rich tapestry of aromas tied to spices, rituals, environments (like monsoon rains), and festivals-the integration of smellscape preservation could offer a unique viewpoint on cultural identity mediation both domestically and internationally.

India’s museums might adopt similar strategies using interactive scent-based exhibits reflecting local traditions or ancient practices tied deeply into Ayurveda or regional crafts like attar-making (perfume oils). Collaborating with global research efforts could enhance India’s ability to showcase these intangible heritages globally while protecting them against rapid urbanization or environmental decline that erodes sensory markers over time.

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