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Jun 15, 2023

Scent: A Natural History of Fragrance

October 6, 2022 by Perpetual Notion Machine Pleasant to nose and soothing to the

October 6, 2022 by Perpetual Notion Machine

Pleasant to nose and soothing to the mind, some scents evoke calmness and peace. Others remind us of the holidays – the smell of pumpkin pie in the fall, sticky cinnamion in the summer. Or, the smell of your favorite perfume/cologne.

Yet, these scents aren't just for us; specific scents evoke defense mechanisms for plants/trees. Imagine the smell of cut grass; it may not be for your nostrils. On Perpetual Notion Machine, host Anita Nsubuga explores the world of scents with author Elise Vernon Pearlstine and her new book, "Scent: A History of Fragrance". They discuss what scents are. They explore the history of famous scents. They also explain the differences between spices, incenses or fragrant woods. Additionally, they explain the intriguing world of perfumes.

Should you have a good nose to smell scents for a living?

What is the king of spices?

Chocolate or vanilla?

Use your nose. Stay tuned!

Perpetual Notion Machine fragrance, plants, scents