This summer, visitors to Shakespeare's New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon can explore the fragrant world of rose perfumery with Sweetest Odours, a new interactive exhibition featuring innovative scent technology from the University of Warwick's School of Engineering.
This new sensory experience blends history, botany, and digital scent technology to explore the story of roses, from the humble native dog rose to the luxurious imported damask rose. Visitors can trace their journey along the trade routes from Damascus and Persia that first brought exotic aromas to England, showcasing how roses were used as ingredients in medicines and cosmetics, as well as transforming Elizabethan perfumery techniques.
At the heart of the exhibition is an engaging look at the art of distillation, the 'scientific' process used to extract essential oils from fragrant plants like roses, violets and lavender. Visitors will learn how Shakespeare and his contemporaries understood scent-making, and how rosewater and rose oil were crafted using traditional copper stills and glass alembics.
"Alembics were the air fryers of their time!" said Teresa Grant, Professor of Renaissance Theatre at the University of Warwick. "As imported rose varieties with stronger perfumes made production of rosewater and rose oil easier, using an alembic still for distillation gained popularity in many households. My colleague Dr Aysu Dincer has collected fascinating household records and recipes for perfumes, medicines and food dishes that include roses, including a rose mouthwash made by Shakespeare's son-in-law, John Hall."
At the heart of the exhibition is an interactive digital fragrance device that allow visitors to discover the possibilities offered by roses using four different scents supplied by one of Britain's oldest-established perfumeries, Floris. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase specially selected Floris products in the Gift Shop at Shakespeare's New Place, helping audiences bring the fresh, floral fragrances home with them.
"We're delighted to have worked with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to showcase the types of rose that Shakespeare would have been familiar with," said Professor Grant. "Whether you're a rose enthusiast, fragrance lover, or curious learner, Sweetest Odours offers a chance to experience history through the nose."
"This is a wonderful example of how Warwick has been able to enhance the education experience for visitors of all ages to this globally renowned Shakespearean attraction, with Professor James Covington's engineering innovations adding an extra dimension and depth to historical and literary learning."
Professor Charlotte Scott, academic advisor at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said, "It has been wonderful to work in collaboration with the University of Warwick and Floris to create this unique sensory experience into the historical connections of this iconic flower.
"The exhibition opens up new opportunities for our visitors and offers an enriching and unique environment to be transported into the summer scents of Shakespeare's most symbolic flowers."
"Few ingredients are as universally appreciated as rose, synonymous with romance, elegance, and English gardens, commented Anna Gilchrist, Fragrance Executive at Floris. "At the heart of many Floris fragrances, it is used to express the same beauty Shakespeare immortalised in verse."
