Smelling the past: a case study for identification, analysis and archival of historic pot-pourri as a heritage smell

Our interaction with heritage objects and spaces is very often limited to a visual experience. However, our perception is multisensory, whether deliberate or not; olfactory stimuli can significantly affect our experience of the world, including cultural heritage. Little is known about the smells of the past, and the olfactory properties of heritage objects and places are not systematically preserved and protected. This work presents scientific analysis of a potpourri identified as historic, by sampling and identification of volatile organic compounds using thermal desorption – gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (TD-GC-TOF-MS). The odour of the potpourri was also characterised using GC with olfactometric detection and evaluated by a sensory panel. The chemical and sensory information was used to create a historic potpourri odour wheel, as a conservation tool for archival and public engagement purposes