Archive for January, 2007
The 19th century French chemist and perfumist G.W. Septimus Piesse was convinced that music could be translated into aroma and vice versa. According to Piesse’s rigorous research, heavy odors corresponded to low notes, sharp odors to high notes.
Piesse’s Smell Organ, a contraption that may or may not have actually been constructed, consisted of a row of perfume atomizers actuated by piano keys. The odors were projected towards the listener/smeller by a steady stream of compressed air. From a 1922 article in Science and Invention, reprinted in Experimental Musical Instruments magazine, and discovered by the Dead Media Project:
Of course, the combination of odors will creates a smell entirely different from any individual qualities of the various perfumes and it is necessary that, in the soft, dreamy compositions, the odors blend harmoniously. Discords will have a decidedly unpleasant effect but inasmuch as the composers did not dwell upon discords to any great extent, the audience will be saved the rather unusual embarrassment of smelling disagreeable combinations. Some music would perhaps have to be changed and the odors carefully graduated so that no particular perfume will predominate, except when the loud pedal, or rather in the smell organs, the *strong* odor pedal is trod upon.
The smell organ’s register:
| BASS CLEF C patchouli D vanilla E clove bark F benzoin G frangipane A storax B clove C sandalwood D clematis E rattan F castorium G pergulaire A balsam of Peru B carnations and pinks C geranium D heliotrope E iris F musk G Pois de senteur A balsam of tolu B cinnamon C rose |
TREBLE CLEF C rose D violet E cassia F tuberose G orange flower A new mown hay B arome C camphor D almond E Portugal F jonquil G syringa A tonka bean B mint C jasmine D bergamot E citron F ambergris G magnolia A lavender B peppermint C pineapple D citronel E vervain F civet |
