Challenge:
The Newseum, located in Washington D.C., strove to expand their most recent experience: The Boomer List, with scents from the past via an interactive kiosk complete with button activated aromas. An exhibition shrouded in newspaper prints, exclusive Timothy Greenfield-Sanders portraits, one per year of influential Boomers; as well as pop culture memorabilia didn’t quite capture the era according to the idealistic standards the Newseum traditionally employs. A museum meant to exemplify the incredible influence journalism and media has on cultural and social mores wanted to introduce an extra layer of captivation. Insert olfactory stimulation.
The art of scent design wafts its way into the Newseum’s latest exhibit.
Solution: Scents to Represent
SensoryCo and the Newseum joined together to express the sentiments of an era in time still resilient in the memories of many Americans. A scent station stands out against Boomer paraphernalia, equipped with three, button activated scents, encapsulated in a sleek kiosk, begging to be played with. The scents selected were “baby powder”, to represent the over 70 million babies born during the baby boom era, “freshly cut grass” to remind participants of the sudden moves from bustling cities to a newly developed and safe suburbia, and “incense”, to evoke the sentiments of freedom, rebellion and free love.
Aromas from the past re-engage for an immersive cultural retelling for current generations.
Museums, more than ever, are incorporating multi-layered stimulations in order to help immerse participants within their exhibitions. Olfactory stimulations, in the form of scents expressed in multiple delivery methods, creates a phenomenon that lies within the emotion and long term memory center of the brain and is well documented as one of the strongest influences on long term memory.