What’s that smell?

What smell do you think inspired this scent?

If needed, press the
button at the bottom
center to smell again.

CIGARETTE SMOKE
WARM RAIN
BOOKS IN A LIBRARY
NONE OF THE ABOVE
Your understanding of a scent is based on many factors, including its strength, your mood, your memories, and even the way your brain is wired.

The artist, Laurie Anderson, selected the smell of cigarette smoke for
this experience.

Press next to watch the artist's video relating to this smell (1 min. 42 sec.)
The beach
Temple incense
Fresh cookies
NONE OF THE ABOVE
Your understanding of a scent is based on many factors, including its strength, your mood, your memories, and even the way your brain is wired.

The artist Sanford Biggers selected the smell of temple incense as the inspiration for the scent in this experience.

Press next to watch the artist's video relating to this smell (2 min. 19 sec.)
Musty basement
Fresh laundry
Crushed leaves in Autumn
NONE OF THE ABOVE
Your understanding of a scent is based on many factors, including its strength, your mood, your memories, and even the way your brain is wired.

The artist Tenzin Tsetan Choklay selected the smell of fresh laundry
as the inspiration for the scent in
this experience.

Press next to watch the artist's video relating to this smell (2 min. 58 sec.)
Earth after rain
Subway platform
Doctor’s office
NONE OF THE ABOVE
Your understanding of a scent is based on many factors, including its strength, your mood, your memories, and even the way your brain is wired.

The artist Amit Dutta selected the smell of earth after rain as the inspiration for the scent in this experience.

Press next to watch the artist's video relating to this smell (2 min. 9 sec.)
Street festival
Rice fields
Newborn baby
NONE OF THE ABOVE
Your understanding of a scent is based on many factors, including its strength, your mood, your memories, and even the way your brain is wired.

The artist Wang Yahui selected the smell of rice fields as the inspiration for the scent in this experience.

Press next to watch the artist's video relating to this smell (2 min.)
Forest fire
Copy machine
Waterfall
NONE OF THE ABOVE
Your understanding of a scent is based on many factors, including its strength, your mood, your memories, and even the way your brain is wired.

The artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul selected the smell of waterfall as the inspiration for the scent in this experience.

Press next to watch the artist's video relating to this smell (2 min. 1 sec.)

LAURIE ANDERSON
A STORY FROM THE ARTIST

Contemporary artist Laurie Anderson associates the smell of cigarette smoke with the feeling of melancholy, a form of sadness. You might have had a similar or wildly different reaction to the scent based on this smell.  

discover more

Just like this smell elicited an emotional reaction in you and the artist, every day you encounter things that may challenge or affirm your experience of the world. When we acknowledge and accept everyone’s experiences as equally valid, our empathy can grow.

Visit another station to discover a different scent.

Have a story to share in response to a scent?


Leave it in the Scent Library located at the end of this gallery.

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