We have a "buffalo wallow" smell box which has been a great
hit with kids since it was installed ca. 1981.  It is a
standard slope-topped case with a hole cut in the top.  The
hole is covered with a Plexiglas slide so you can only smell
the odor by lifting the slide and putting your nose near the
hole.  The smell is generated by a few drops of liquid
placed on a petrii dish on a shelf inside.

No one has ever complained about the smell unless they've
actually worked the interactive and put their nose in the
hole - some respond with "eeehwe!," but the kids really love
it.  The smell does not carry outside the box at all so far
as I can tell.

We're running out of the odor liquid, and the Curator of
Exhibits says the company doesn't make it anymore, so I
don't know how we'll keep this going.  If anyone knows of a
source of such a product, we'd love to see the address, on
or off-line.


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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
E:  [log in to unmask]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Above in response to:


Date:    Wed, 2 Oct 1996 22:15:27 +0000
From:    Jeff Northam <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Use of Smells and Scents in Museum Exhibits

I have been asked to present information on the use of
smells and scents in
museum exhibitions later this month. In order to give a well
rounded
perspective,I would like to solicit information from other
museum-l
subscribers as to their experiences or opinions in the use
of scents.

Do you know of examples of institutions that have used
scents in
interesting and innovative ways? How were scents used? Were
they effective
enhancements? Were there any problems or downsides in the
use of scents
such as maintaining proper levels of intensity, controlling
dispersion or
negative responses such as sensitivity or allergic
reactions?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. You may respond to
me off list or
on if the subject is of interest to others. Thank you.

Jeff Northam
Pouncing Pachyderm Productions
e-mail: [log in to unmask]

Jeffrey Northam
Principal
Pouncing Pachyderm Productions

snail mail address:
3875 Whitehouse Creek Road
Pescadero, CA 94060-9722
USA
415.879.0031-voice only
415.879.1331-voice/fax

e-mail address:
[log in to unmask]