ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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This is the third time in 2 weeks that someone has posed a question to me (albeit indirectly in this case) about smells.
I have held Sense of Smell Day events for the past 5 years. While it is not a permanant exhibit, some of these ideas may help you.
First of all, check out this website: http://www.scentair.com/index_flash.html. This company makes machines that distribute scents from a little cartiridge. The smells range from your more traditional (rose garden, peppermint) to the weird (dinosaur breath, oily machinery). Some of the scents are better than others ("cinnamon bun" very nearly made me ill, but "chocolate chip cookie" is dead on).
One of our exhibits has a market inside where kids can smell different herbs/spices from different cultures' kitchens. The containers are like oversized salt shakers, with larger holes. The dried herbs and spices work well, and it's easy enough to add a scented oil to bring it out a little more. They need attention every couple of months or so.
Another idea (that may not work in the exhibit, but makes a fun program when staffed) is to just take plain old squeeze bottles and put scent-soaked cotton balls inside. A gentle squeeze releases enough of the scent without putting your eyes out. Demeter Fragrances has tons of possibilities; again with the traditional to the bizarre, and some are better than others ("ocean" smells nothing like the ocean, while "bonfire" is perfect).
Hope that gives you some ideas. Feel free to email me off-list. I feel as though my unofficial title has become "the Smell Lady of Boston."
AD
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Alissa Daniels, Science Program Manager
Boston Children's Museum
617-426-6500 x342
www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..." --Isaac Asimov
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-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Nathanson, Gabe
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 8:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Help on Scent Exhibit
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Hi All:
I am building an exhibit on scent and would like some advice on how to deliver odors via a switch. I've seen "Smell" exhibits with a manual squeeze, but I'm looking to have a visitor hit a button and the scent be blown at them.
I was told the device to release the smell was called an odorizer, but can't find one. Someone also told me about a company that brought by a case with every imaginable smell as samples??? Any direction is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Gabriel Nathanson
Universal Services Associates, Inc.
Tel: (610) 461-0300, ext. 205
Cell: (215) 266-6693
[log in to unmask]
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