The Radical Implications of the Invisible Language of Scent: Studio and Clinical Observations

2013 - present

On May 26, 2025, I presented a short talk on an ongoing research project stemming from my studio and clinical practice. Beginning with my book Nose Dive, I continue to explore and emphasize the importance of scent as a catalyst for imagination, curiosity, and more nuanced, subtle thinking.

In the talk, I mapped our collective difficulty with uncertainty to the sharp rise in anxiety and depression. These challenges stem in part from our increasing dependence on the illusion of certainty provided by the internet, AI, and similar technologies. In contrast, art and scent remain among the last bastions of uncertainty—spaces we can still explore with a sense of wonder and openness, free from the pressure to "know" with certainty.

My ongoing hypothesis is that by cultivating our comfort with uncertainty through the sense of smell, we can lay the groundwork for enhanced creativity, improved emotional resilience, and a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The research is ongoing, and I invite collaboration. If you're interested in participating or would like access to notes and materials I've compiled thus far, please email me at catherine@mindmarrow.com.

Please do not use any photos or text without proper attribution.
The images below were created for the presentation. Event photos from the Experimental Scent Summit—hosted by the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, in partnership with the Institute for Art & Olfaction and Smell Lab—were taken by Los Angeles-based photographer Lenora Valdez.