New Exhibition Explores the Science of Smell in Tenerife
‘Tenerife Science and Cosmos Museum’ has launched a new exhibition titled ‘Oler para creer’, focusing on the importance of smell. The interactive display features over 80 distinct scents and offers a unique experience to understand how our sense of smell influences emotions, memories, and behaviours.
The temporary exhibition, organised by the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC) and Tenerife Museums, will be open until June 30, 2027. It aims to highlight the connection between smell and various fields such as chemistry, medicine, anthropology, and perfumery.
At the opening ceremony, local dignitaries, including José Carlos Acha, Cultural Councillor of the Tenerife Cabildo, and Antonia Varela, director of the Science Museum, emphasised the exhibition’s goal to make scientific knowledge accessible to the public. Acha noted that museums can serve as vital platforms for engaging citizens with science, while Varela stated that the exhibition aligns perfectly with the museum’s mission to blend scientific knowledge, experimentation, and emotion.
IPNA-CSIC director Tomás Martín remarked on the need to explore the underappreciated role of smell in our lives. The curators, Rubén Naveros and Inés Pérez, highlighted that the exhibition offers a journey through various perspectives on scent, from biological perception to cultural significance.
Visitors can look forward to interactive elements where they can experience unusual scents, including those from space and significant historical fragrances. This multi-disciplinary approach will also cover gastronomy, medicine, and even neuromarketing, focusing on how scents affect our choices and feelings.
The launch also featured a humorous monologue, ‘Cuestión de narices’, by artist Carmen Cabeza, providing an entertaining introduction to the exhibition.
The exhibition is supported by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and the Government of the Canary Islands, along with contributions from La Laguna University and other partnerships.
For further details on visiting ‘Oler para creer’, please check the official channels of the Tenerife Science and Cosmos Museum.
