OLFACTORY TRIP TO JAPAN

A conference supported by the Museum of the Arts of Asia and Ancient Egypt

In partnership with the association of AMIS DU MUSEE GEORGES LABIT (www.museegeorgeslabit.fr) in Toulouse, in the Obsète room of the Duranti space, near the Capitol, a first olfactory conference is initiated on an oriental theme, that of Japan and its olfactory culture.

An invitation to travel by following in the footsteps or rather the nose of Pierre Bénard in his quest for endemic Japanese smells in the Kansai region and to understand an olfactory culture different from that of Europe, through Japanese incense and the KODO ceremony, literally “the art of listening to perfumes”.

A conference guided by the words of the perfumer

“Awaji Island is known for the ‘koh-shi’, literally the ‘masters of perfume’ who make the country’s most sought-after incense sticks.

Before visiting the incense factories, my initiation begins at the water temple, a Buddhist shrine, designed by the architect, ex-boxer, Ando Tadao.

Entrance is through the roof of the building crowned with an oval pond of water lilies.

A concrete staircase guides me to a lower space, underground, where an atmosphere of tranquility pervades me.

The bright red woodwork is revealed by the light.

With my shoes off, I sit in front of the censer and the Buddhist icons.

I sprinkle a powder of a mixture on the charcoal and with my hand scatter the smoke and scent that materializes towards my nose.

The lightly smoky scent is made up of sandalwood and an amber accord.

I meditate.”

BLACK MAGIC BOX

This olfactory conference is accompanied by the black magic box (8 raw materials) allowing an olfactory follow-up of some Japanese notes encountered during this journey.

Link to the event by clicking here

“Life is a trail of perfume: it leaves memories of precious encounters in memory. » Pierre Bénard