Olfactory Heritage in Slovenian Museums
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33700/1580-7118.26.1.5-29(2024)Keywords:
intangible heritage, olfactory heritage, anthropology of smell, museum, SloveniaAbstract
Olfactory cultural heritage refers to the scents associated with objects, places, cultural practices, and traditions that serve as a testimony to the past. A study conducted in Slovenian museums between 2021 and 2024 found that museologists voluntarily include various aspects of olfactory heritage in their exhibitions and educational activities. They are largely aware of the importance of the scents emanating from objects and spaces for the fascination of visitors. However, it was found that there is a lack of museum strategies for olfactory heritage in Slovenia since there is no common strategy or set of standards for Slovenian museums, and there are no legal regulations in this area. Despite a response rate of only 49% (29 out of 59 invited museums participated), the reflections of the participating museologists on the role of smell in museums inspired by this research do give hope for greater utilization of this aspect of cultural heritage in the future.
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