Perfume at Somerset House, London. Photography by Kim Keever Perfume at Somerset House, London. Photography by Kim Keever
Perfume at Somerset House, London. Photography by Ori Gersht Perfume at Somerset House, London. Photography by Ori Gersht
Perfume at Somerset House, London. Photography by Martin Klimas Perfume at Somerset House, London. Photography by Martin Klimas

Perfume is a new show exploring contemporary scent

03 : 07 : 2017 Beauty : Luxury : Fashion

London – The exhibition at Somerset House looks at 10 perfumes through visual, audio and tactile references.

As a whole, the display takes an approach that scent should evoke an unexpected place or moment, rather than just trying to mask an odour. For that reason, the exhibition highlights visceral smells, as well as unsavoury ones such as smoke and sweat.

One perfume featured is El Cosmico by David Seth Moltz. Drawing on American history and geography, it has been crafted to transport visitors to the Chihuahuan Desert. It is presented alongside a sand installation to further heighten the experience.

The exhibition also features a perfume laboratory that profiles the science, skills, tools and ingredients used by contemporary perfumers to create a fragrance. Throughout the exhibition, the laboratory will host perfumers-in-residence and one-day takeovers, inviting guests to experience the creative process of the perfume designer.

The Big Picture

  • Scent continues to provide opportunities for innovative and sensory experiences. For more, see the new museum in Paris dedicated to the exploration of perfume in our Briefing report
  • The Paradise Paradoxe is another exhibition, this time in Zürich, that has opened up the process of perfume-making
Discover More Daily Signals
Can mixed-reality theatre re-invent the stage?

Daily Signals

Can mixed-reality theatre re-invent the stage?

An Ark, a mixed-reality theatre experience at The Shed in New York, is exploring how digital technology can transform live performance while preser...
Immersive Theatre : Media : Entertainment
Prada excavates the past to shape menswear’s future

Daily Signals

Prada excavates the past to shape menswear’s future

Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada’s autumn/winter 2026 menswear collection presented at Fondazione Prada in Milan, Italy, was an exercise in layered arc...
Fashion : Luxury : Society
Stat: Youth employment anxiety rises as AI threatens entry-level roles

Daily Signals

Stat: Youth employment anxiety rises as AI threatens entry-level roles

A growing majority of young people in the UK are entering work with deep anxiety about their career prospects, according to new research from the K...
Workplace : Society : Statistic
Will.i.am launches Trinity EV as AI-first solution for urban mobility

Daily Signals

Will.i.am launches Trinity EV as AI-first solution for urban mobility

Musician and entrepreneur Will.i.am has launched Trinity, a single-passenger, three-wheeled electric vehicle (EV) that is designed around an AI agent.
Mobility : Technology : Sustainability
Gap creates chief entertainment officer role to drive fashiontainment

Daily Signals

Gap creates chief entertainment officer role to drive fashiontainment

Gap Inc has appointed Pam Kaufman as its first-ever chief entertainment officer, a newly created role designed to develop a ‘fashiontainment’ platf...
Fashion : Entertainment : Media
Stat: Nearly a third of children starting school are struggling with basic analogue skills

Daily Signals

Stat: Nearly a third of children starting school are struggling with basic analogue skills

Nearly a third of children starting reception in England and Wales are struggling with basic analogue skills, revealing a widening gap between home...
Screen Time : Technology : Child Development
How building Bishoftu Airport positions Ethiopia as African travel epicentre

Daily Signals

How building Bishoftu Airport positions Ethiopia as African travel epicentre

Ethiopia has broken ground at Bishoftu International Airport, a new mega-hub designed by Zaha Hadid Architects that aims to become the largest avia...
Travel : Infrastructure : Airport
Miffy Mood Lab uses blind-box mechanics to turn emotion into retail engagement

Daily Signals

Miffy Mood Lab uses blind-box mechanics to turn emotion into retail engagement

Miffy Mood Lab has opened at the official Miffy store in London, celebrating the release of Mr Maria’s Miffy Colourful range while experimenting w...
Retail : Emotional Experiences : Mystery Box
Stat: Menopause symptoms improve with community-led fitness programme

Daily Signals

Stat: Menopause symptoms improve with community-led fitness programme

Peloton and Respin Health have released new findings from a targeted study examining women’s health during perimenopause and menopause, revealing t...
Menopause : Women's Health : Wellness
The North Face fuses ancient art with performance gear

Daily Signals

The North Face fuses ancient art with performance gear

As Lunar New Year approaches, The North Face is celebrating both the Year of the Horse and its 60th anniversary with a limited-edition collection t...
Fashion : Luxury : Sports
You have 2 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN