Smell Graffiti

Step 4 In practice

The scents don't last very long. On the order of 20 minutes to a couple hours if you spray an object. I have found that this is plenty of time though.

As part of this project I've been sourcing natural scents like dirt and freshly cut grass and spraying them in urbanized public spaces where these scents are never encountered.

I can imagine many other ways of using scent as a powerful medium. For example places where scent is strategically used to the advantage of an advertiser can be jammed by overwhelming it with a second, foreign scent. I've heard of vending machines wafting the scent of chocolate to lure in more customers. What if instead of chocolate, the vending machine smelled like smoke.

Another very intriguing possibility I have been playing with is to create synthetic synesthisia by hacking my cans to spray both paint and scent simultaneously.

photo credit: esel.at

Comments

[redcore4]

I'm also allergic to a lot of scents.  I would advise against doing this in enclosed spaces like public transport, libraries etc. I really like the idea though - if it's used responsibly!

[Boulevard Park 916]

Maybe in Austria, maybe even in Iowa, but in most urban areas this would be in play for about a week before it was copy-catted and made very sinister.  Very, very, Aum Supreme Truth sinister.  Very interesting concept, if only it could be kept "nice".

[skst14]

Legitimate idea, I like it. I just wish the scent lasted for a longer period of time.

[octo137]

I actually think sight/smell synesthesia isn't really all that common, unlike sound/color and word/color

[Marsh]

I'm thinking limburger cheese at the local phone booth.

[Kryptonite]

Why did I think of Lumbago when I read that?

[robbtoberfest]

I've always like to see a dead fish or stink bomb reaction in people. A good way to modify behavior, like keeping people from hanging out in an area.

[edhdreed]

Interesting ideas, and very creative but reminds me that I'm allergic to a lot of scents like those added to laundry detergents and fabric softeners, and lots of perfumes. One of my pet peeves is when I'm enclosed in an elevator and someone enters who is drenched in perfume. My eyes start burning and itching and I start sneezing. I like perfumes but only in moderation. Odors and scents are really strong influences on memories. Certain odors will bring back memories of events even back to childhood. Scents might be used in advertising to strengthen our memory of the product or message. You would just have to be careful about what kind of perfumes to use. Of course unpleasant scents might create an aversion to the product.

[Dustwing]

This is a very interesting concept, but I wonder about the allergen issues. I've known a lot of people who are very allergic to perfumes and such, not to mention sent as asthma triggers