How to Conduct Smell Research and Where to Find the Sources?

This chapter deals with two main topics. The first is the importance of the study of smells and the aims associated with this research. By studying the smells of the past, we gain insights into history and improve our understanding of it. Second, it addresses the approaches used in the study of smells from a humanistic perspective, highlighting the primary sources and methods used to document historical smells. In addition, this chapter provides an overview of historical taxonomies to understand how people categorized and classified smells. It also includes examples from various fields, such as the natural sciences, psychology, anthropology, and perfumery.