Short course
Scent and Museums: Crafting Olfactory Experiences
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
08/12/2026 - 09/12/2026
Study format:
Short intensive
Fees:
£560.00
Olfactory visitor experiences are becoming increasingly popular. Museums and heritage spaces around the world are using scent to engage and develop audiences, contextualise collections and enhance narrative experiences, as well as to inject some fun into exhibitions and programming. But what makes an olfactory visitor experience effective? What expertise and resources are needed to do one well? And how do we go about measuring its impact? This course will explore and address these questions through a range of interactive, discussion-based lectures and hands-on workshops.
Whether using scent for the first time, or refining your olfactory approach, the sessions are designed to hone skills and inspire creativity that can be applied to any museum or heritage context. There will be a balance between developing an understanding around the theory and rationale for using scent, exploring effective examples through case studies, and hands-on activities to test techniques and develop ideas for your own museums.
This course will be led by Claire Dobbin, a specialist in multisensory visitor experience. The programme will include object handling and gallery-based activities at the Ashmolean Museum led by Matthew Winterbottom, curator at the Ashmolean Museum, and a masterclass on sensory interpretation with Tasha Marks, of AVM Curiosities.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Day 1
9:30am: Introductions and sensory warm-up activity
10am: Why Scent? Case studies and examples which illustrate the potential and benefits of olfactory storytelling in museums and heritage spaces.
11am: Short break
11:30am: Scent workshop: A practical ‘nose-on’ activity exploring scent – its relationship with memory and emotions – and how it can be harnessed for a museum and heritage setting.
1pm: Lunch
1:45pm: Visit to the Ashmolean museum: How to incorporate scent and scent-based language into handling sessions and live interpretation in the galleries. Group activities.
2:45pm: Short break
3pm: Continue group activities at the Ashmolean.
4pm: Reconvene to wrap up the day.
5pm: Close
Day 2
9:30am: Introductions and sensory warm up activity
10am: Scent & Storytelling Masterclass with Tasha Marks: Part 1. Past projects by AVM Curiosities which illustrate the benefits of using taste, smell and sound in gallery and museum settings.
11am: Short break
11:30am: Scent & Storytelling Masterclass: Part 2. Hands-on activity to explore, experiment with and deepen understanding of practical processes involved in working with fragrance and scented materials.
12:30pm: Overview of the morning and activity setting for the afternoon.
1pm: Lunch
2pm: Guided working in groups to develop ideas for participants’ own institutions, including 30 minutes at the end to present and receive feedback.
3:30pm: Short break
4pm: Review of the course with time for questions.
5pm: Close
Accomodation
Accommodation is available to book for this course at Rewley House. If you have any questions regarding the accommodation please get in touch with Continuing Education Residential Centre res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk
All bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished and each room has tea and coffee making facilities, Freeview television, and Free WiFi and private bath or shower rooms.
Course aims
- To demystify scent as an interpretive tool and explore the powerful roles it is playing in narrative experiences around the world.
- To get participants thinking ‘multisensorially’ about their museums and collections, with practical tips and creative ideas for incorporating scent into exhibits and programming.
- To create opportunities for practitioners to experience and experiment with new olfactory ways of working, which shake up their approach to delivering programmes and interpreting collections.
Learning outcomes
On this two-day course museum practitioners will develop:
- A deeper understanding of the potential and benefits of incorporating olfactory experiences into museums, galleries and heritage spaces, based on the relationship between scent, memory, emotions and well-being.
- Awareness of the latest examples and innovations around the world, where scent is being employed to diversify interpretation and enhance audience engagement.
- Practical skills and understanding of some of the key processes involved in working with fragrance and scent materials.
- Creative ideas and inspiration for introducing scent and scent-centred language to their own exhibits and programming.
Digital Certification
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from Oxford Lifelong Learning, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| In-person tuition | £560.00 |
| Hot Lunch Day 1 | £22.40 |
| Hot Lunch Day 2 | £22.40 |