Most of us have a favorite scent, a go-to perfume that makes us feel pretty and confident, whether we're heading into an important interview or going on a hot date. Well, there is a new exhibit that wants to raise this basic beauty ritual to the likes of Picassos and Monets. According to curator Chandler Burr, perfume is a kind of wearable art and should be appreciated as such. Last night, we had the privilege of attending the Art of Scent exhibit at the Museum of Art and Design, which features twelve iconic fragrances and the "artists" that created them, from "Jicky," created in 1889 by Aime Guerlain to "Untitled," created in 2010 by Daniela Andrier.
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As you move through the show, you can lean down into a scent diffuser (they look slightly urinal-esque, which we find ironic and hilarious) to experience the "work of olfactory art," and learn about how the fragrance was created and what makes it iconic. From the feminine, floral Pleasures to the laundry-detergent inspired Drakkar Noir (for real), the fragrances could not be more different, which allows the viewer to appreciate each work for its own unique composition. At the end of your nasal odyssey, there is a testing room where you can try on any of the fragrances that captured your fancy.
The exhibit is open until February 24, so we highly suggest that if you're interested in perfume — hey, even if you think you hate it — you check out this incredible exhibit. If anything, it's much more enjoyable than getting aggressively spritzed at the department store!
MAD Museum, 2 Columbus Circle (at 58th Street); 212-956-3535.
Photographed by Brad Farwell