Bibliotheca odorata: a breath of scented air for academic wellbeing
What is this project about?
We aim to provide sets of fragrance decants / samples to university students and staff for free.
As two fragrance collectors and scholars , we'd like to serve as an introductory bridge between aromatherapy and academic wellbeing, in addition to make in our meager possibilities the perfumery industry and olfactory studies more inclusive and accessible.
The project owes its ideation to Invisible Stories' sample drop initiative on Tik Tok.
Where to find the sets:
the project does not intend to have a regular delivery schedule or drop point.
The sets will be left inside public institutions reading rooms and study spaces, or at a library of one of the University of London member institutions.
Place and time of the delivery will be updated with short notice via Instagram Stories.
Can I contribute / help?
Absolutely, please let us know if you'd like to be included in our group!
You can help by providing the basic equipment to keep the project alive (mouillettes, samples, fragrance decants etc) or by starting individually to drop your decants/ samples around any student crowded area.
We are only able to cover University of London member institutions at the moment.
I picked a sample set ... What shall I do now?
Whatever you feel to do with a fragrance sample set!
The idea behind the initiative is to get as many students as possible to engage more organically with perfumery and olfaction.
A useful tip for getting into perfumery is to search up more information on the fragrance you've got (who designed the scent? which notes are featured? what does it smell like? does it remind me of something specifically? you can evaluate smell on many different levels!).
Once you collect the sample set, it's yours and you're free to enjoy it as you prefer!
If you'd like to let us know your thoughts on the fragrances featured or have any feedback, please get in touch with us. Happy sniffing!
I am a brand / company / perfumer... Can I provide you samples?
You are particularly welcome! If you want to provide us with decants, samples or any work form related to the olfaction you produce, please get in contact with us!
You can either drop an email or get in touch with us directly via our social media accounts. Please read carefully the following section for further clarifications.
DISCLOSURE:
This project is not meant to be a marketing tool for brands with the sole aim of self-promotion.
Independent perfumers who have the means to contribute and would like to have their work shared and discussed between college students & staff are particularly welcomed.
We do not accept dupes or counterfeits.
Ideally, we would primarily prefer small sizes (from 2ml to 10ml) in order to avoid waste and guarantee enough product to as many students as we can;
all products will be delivered in accordance with the provider, and we will not keep any for personal consumption and purposes.
An inventory / spreadsheet is available to consult for anyone interested.
The fragrances need to be first approved by us.
How do we evaluate / which products are accepted?
The aim is to possibly share affordable or at least fairly priced scents, purchasable in different size formats.
Overpriced brands with unethical practices of manufacturing, labour and marketing will not be accepted.
Fragrances need to be composed following IFRA's safe-use guidelines, unless clearly disclosed on the product.
Apart from this, there are no restrictions.
You are highly encouraged to add descriptive side notes of your work or the sample you kindly provided.
''... And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste
And I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference 'tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and pleasure and the church bells softly chime ''
- Senses working over time by XTC
