Episode 64- Smell-O-Vision

“Sniff, Sniff, Sniff! Haddock and hay,
Pizza and penguins, and farther away
The smell of the thief, and - how very exciting -
Thousands of pages all covered in writing!”
- Julia Donaldson, The Detective Dog

Photo credit: Luca Sage & British Library BIPC

In this episode, I’m joined by Tammy Burnstock, whose work explores the rich intersections between scent, cinema, and storytelling. Tammy describes her practice as scent archaeology—unearthing and reviving perfumes that carry cultural memory and creative possibility. Most recently, she co-curated Her Scent of Mystery at Olfactory Art Keller in New York City, alongside Jas Brooks and perfumer Marissa Zappas. The exhibition, which runs until 20 September, brings back to life the lost perfume from the 1960 Smell-O-Vision film Scent of Mystery, pairing the revived fragrance with rare archival materials to tell the story of scent as both cinematic plot device and unrealised product.

Our conversation traces Tammy’s journey into the world of fragrance, particularly its links to film and children’s literature. We talk about the process of scenting films, the importance of audience interaction, and the role scent can play in children’s literacy and imagination. Tammy also shares her thoughts on play, collaboration, and the future projects that continue to shape her creative practice.

Fragrances mentioned:
Pizza
Hay
Penguins
Rotten Eggs
Barf

Book discussed:
The Detective Dog - Julia Donaldson
The Museum of Very Bad Smells - Monica Arnaldo

Find Tammy online here:
Instagram:
@inglorious_smellovision

Website:
scentedstorytelling.com
inglorioussmellovision.com
Her Scent of Mystery Project

Theme music for the show was created by Raul Sanchez I Jorge. Check out his solo work on Wild Animal Records