Olfactory artist and perfumer Gabriel De Carvalho presents 'The Smell of Sanctity: From Devotion to Decomposition,' a multi-sensory exhibition at The Olfactory Art Studio in London from 26 to 30 November 2025. The installation explores the historical concept of the 'odour of sanctity'—the sweet fragrance said to emanate from saints—through the lens of biochemistry, using bespoke scent compositions, sculptural diffusers, and light to blur the boundaries between sacred spaces and scientific laboratories.
This exhibition matters because it positions olfactory art as a serious medium for tackling complex, transdisciplinary questions about faith, perception, and the chemistry of emotion. By revealing how molecules associated with decay can also create beauty, De Carvalho challenges conventional distinctions between the sacred and profane, expanding the scope of contemporary art to include scent as a tool for intellectual and sensory exploration.