Collection jars are markers of a place, time, and people. Capturing smells is to freeze an emotion in time, but then watch it change as your memories evolve and fade. To capture your smell, open your jar in proximity to the smell. Once filled with ambient air, close the lid tight!

Use the examples to the right to help inspire your choice of smells and descriptive language. Label the origin of the scent with a descriptor such as “Freshly baked cookies”. Or, you may embody an experience in a more cryptic notation such as “relaxing”, or “free flowing”.

In addition to your label, it is optional to accompany your smell with additional writing or other artistic expressions. This is encouraged (again, optional), and gives beautiful context to your choices and insights. Accompaniments may be written on the slip, or shared via other channels.

Project Origins

Smell: Coffee with the additions of coco, cinnamon, and/or cardamom
Label: Cafe Con Canela
Optional Accompaniment: Mi Abuela taught me how to make Cafe Con Canela. She liked to have a cup even in the heat of the day! Her recipe has survived past her years on earth. It breathes softly in all of her children’s homes.

Smell: Must and oil from a guitar case.
Label: Twang
Optional Accompaniment: I play music to relax, but frankly I’m not very gifted. Sometimes I daydream about playing funny songs for traffic on the corner of Flores and Salinas (next to the Dr. Seuss mural.)

Smell: Head and Shoulders shampoo mixed with Oatmeal.
Label: Duke
Optional Accompaniment: Duke the dog can speak, sit, and lay down. Duke loves everyone dearly and with great enthusiasm, especially ducks, snow, and his family. Also Brisket. Duke really loves brisket.