Why Is Bukhoor Passed To Guests In Arab Households? A New Exhibition In Riyadh Is Exploring Traditions Regarding Scents
Perfumes of the East delves into the relationship between the MENA region and its connection with perfumes
If you’re a fragrance connoisseur and have an equal love for history, a new exhibition exploring the relationship between the Arab World and scents is taking place currently at the Saudi National Museum in Riyadh.
In partnership with the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Perfumes of the East display made its first international debut.
The exhibition taking place under the patronage of Prince Badr bin Farhan, the minister of culture, offers visitors a multisensory experience through the long history behind the Arab World’s relationship with perfumery. The display also includes fragrances that are specific to the East as well as the cultural heritage and practices associated with perfumes.
With a focus on 200 archaeological items and modern artworks, the exhibition, which is running until September 14, 2024, has three main sections.
The first part titled Sublime and Generous Nature explores the history of perfumes and aims to educate visitors on the discovery of raw materials including flowers, herbs, spices, frankincense, amber, and myrrh.
Next, the Scents of the City is a guided journey through a cityscape, highlighting the role of fragrances in current society.
The final stop of the exhibition is called the Fragrant Courtesy, which delves into the traditions around perfume in the MENA region as well as the Islamic world, such as passing bakhoor amongst guests, so they can scent themselves.
The experience is curated by renowned perfumer Christopher Sheldrake who has worked with Chanel and Shiseido.
The exhibition also features workshops and talks, surrounding the ingredients of perfume, the art of perfume making, and packaging design.
Tickets can be purchased through the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Discover Culture website.
Image Courtesy of Instagram/@ikgraphy