Artist and writer Catherine Haley Epstein, provides an overview on the role of scent in contemporary art  on Temporary Art Review. What is interesting is the broader storyline:

“Scent is invisible and profoundly effective in engaging audiences. A painting would never overwhelm the audience – one can simply look away or close one’s eyes. A scent is most direct, affecting our limbic system instantaneously. One must leave a room should an odor overwhelm or disagree with them. Conversely, one may be drawn directly to a scent that triggers their curiosity, their hearts and their minds at once. This makes for a powerful tool in an artist’s arsenal. Much like music can soothe or irritate, scent can explain the vibe of the apocalypse, a garden party or a revolution much more quickly than a painting one might argue.”

Marcel Duchamp, “Air de Paris”, 1919 / 1939. Image courtesy Succession Marcel Duchamp / Adagp, Paris 2014.