The Stories of Smell — Sissel Tolaas, Revisited

Today, we’re re-releasing an episode with Norwegian chemist, artist, linguist, and smell researcher, Sissel Tolaas, whose work explores scent as a powerful medium for storytelling. In this conversation, Sissel shares how she analyzes smell molecules in everything from garments in museum archives, to the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Through collaborations with institutions such as the Cooper Hewitt, the Tate Modern, Venice Biennale, and Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sissel reveals how the invisible world of scent can uncover forgotten histories and deepen human connection.

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