Aftel Archives - May 2019
On Saturday, the Explorers Guild debuted the long-awaited Berkeley Olfactory Expedition. Despite the lingering chance of rain, we met up early to first explore the Aftel Archive. Crossing the line in the sand, we were soon greeted by the docents and curators of the museum. The Aftel Archive is a playground for your nose and a sensory experience that is unlike anything else the Explorers Guild has done. Quickly taking us through the layout, the docents provided us the tools and understanding of the space then let us loose to discover at our own pace.
I myself started with the history of fragrance, smells and the acquisition of these items. To approach this I went through the placards and drawings on the walls but was also shown the quaint library held in the space. Flipping through some of their favorite books I suddenly wished I had access to these back at Guild HQ and a weekend of time. I was transfixed by the breadth of knowledge available but was soon reminded that my time here was precious.
I inquired with some of the Explorers what had captured their imagination and was led to a couple of vials. Choosing not to read the descriptions first I took each one in. There was a familiarity to them all but couldn't exactly figure it out. Upon reading the signs I realized I was smelling a deconstructed rose. It didn't stop here as I meandered from one exhibit to another I loved smelling the same smell but 100 years apart, which really highlighted how smell can become more complex as it ages. There were also featured natural and synthetic smells and original source materials to hold and explore too.
A key feature for thorough exploration is the scent organ. This beautiful tool is built with high, medium and low notes which Explorers played with octaves, chords, and combinations to discover the smells that meant the most to them. Birch, Vertiverol, Pink Pepper, Ho Wood, and so many others we plucked out and samples were extruded for later remembrance. Which, speaking of, that's another note many explorers had. So many smells contained the memories of other days and places. The whole museum felt like a travel agency of time and space.
As we ended our time there, we looked to the skies. The forecast was dreary and the reality was no better. The rain was putting a damper on the rest of our day's planned journey. Still, our troupe adapted and made the best of the situation. We convened at a tea shop around the block and continued our conversations and explorations of smell. As we sipped tea we discussed our understanding and general knowledge of smell.
As the tea tapered off and the conversations left us in a state of awe and reverence we called it a day. With a final Semper Explorandum we all headed out into the rainy weekend, full of olfactory sensations and a new appreciation.
