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All the United States California Berkeley Aftel Archive of Curious Scents

Aftel Archive of Curious Scents

Nose around a unique collection of more than 300 natural aromas used to craft fragrances.

Berkeley, California

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mandy1
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Selection of Exhibits at the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (photo by Joel Bernstein)   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (photo by Aya Brackett)   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Various Exhibits   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Bottles of Aromatic Essences   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Ambergris Exhibit   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Cabinet of Curiousities   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Exhibits at the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (photo by Aya Brackett)   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Various Exhibits   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Antique Books & Maps at the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (photo by Joel Bernstein)   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Taxidermy Civet & Perfume Organ at the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (photo by Aya Brackett)   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Cabinet of Curiosities at the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (photo by Joel Bernstein)   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Highly recommend a visit!   teresaC / Atlas Obscura User
Sperm Whale & Ambergris Exhibit at the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (photo by Joel Bernstein)   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents Interior   mandy1 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

An assortment of aromatic artifacts fills a quaint backyard cottage in Berkeley, California. The Aftel Archive of Curious Scent is the first museum in the United States dedicated solely to the experience of natural fragrances.

Walking through the museum, you can touch, see, and, of course, smell the raw materials used to craft perfume essences. The small museum is devoted entirely to natural aromatics and artifacts. In the outdoor garden annex, you can sniff over 40 essences made from fruits, flowers, grasses, trees, and animal secretions.

The collection contains items like a taxidermy civet, a cat-like animal with a particularly pungent glandular secretion; perfume essences that are 100 years old; and a papier-mâché “vegan taxidermy” musk deer, an animal that was driven to near-extinction because of its highly coveted secretion.

Every item in the archive is authentic and original. After nosing around the collection, visitors can choose five scented samples to take home from among over 200 bottles of natural essences.

Related Tags

Niche Museums Collections Smells Perfume Museums And Collections Museums Taxidermy

Know Before You Go

Open every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are available on the website. Walk-ins also welcome, pay at the door. Contract info@aftelarchive.com or 510-841-2111 for more info.

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Added By

mandy1

Edited By

fostercurry, teresaC

  • fostercurry
  • teresaC

Published

August 9, 2017

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  • https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/07/t-magazine/mandy-aftel-perfume-history-museum-berkeley.html
  • http://www.vogue.com/article/natural-perfumer-mandy-aftel-archive-scent-museum-berkeley-california
  • http://www.7x7.com/mandy-aftel-perfume-museum-2460947287.html
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents
1518-1/2 Walnut Street
Berkeley, California
United States
37.879472, -122.268424
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