Patchouli & The Social Ecology of Fragrance

In this online lecture, historian and perfumer Nuri McBride will explore the cultural impact of the patchouli plant.
About this Event

Get your patchouli stink - outta my store! - High Fidelity

Today, patchouli is widely associated with the 1970s and hippie culture, but its introduction to the West occurred a century earlier. Contrary to the image of burnouts, the fragrance of patchouli in 19th-century Western society was linked to optimism and imperialism. It also reflected concern over rapidly changing social norms and the desire, for some, to escape into a romanticized vision of the East tailored for Western tastes. In the East, the relationship with patchouli was much more complex.

This class will utilize the principles of social ecology to trace this humble herb from its native range and cultures to the salons of Second Empire Paris, 1970s love-ins, and suburban yoga studios. Social ecology allows us to explore how individuals interact with their environments and the effects of these interactions on both society and the natural world.

This class also has an optional take-home exercise for attendees.

Who Should Take This Class

You will love this class if you are...

interested in the relationship between aromatic plants and society
have a passion for plant wisdom and the history of cultivation
eager to explore the deeper history of the plants of the fragrance trade
interested in learning more about the colonial history of industrialised fragrance
a patchouli lover

Please take note of the following class details:

Class Particulars

This lecture will be presented live via Zoom on May 28th at 8:00 pm (20:00) GMT+3. Attendees can join the lecture using the link provided via the notification email sent out 12 hours before the lecture. To ensure that our emails aren't marked as spam, please add [email protected] to your contact list. The lecture recording will be accessible to attendees for 14 days. Student participation is highly encouraged but optional.

Policies

No refunds
Tickets are non-transferable
You can purchase a ticket up to 12 hours before a class goes live.
You cannot purchase a ticket after a class has ended in order to access the recording or class materials.
Exercises and learning materials are strictly for the use of attendees.
Recordings and class materials are available to attendees for 14 calendar days after the class. Unfortunately, data limitations currently require us to delete recordings after 14 days. Failure to watch the video within that period is not grounds for a refund.
We have a zero-tolerance harassment policy. Abusive behaviour directed towards speakers or fellow attendees will result in immediate ejection from the class and barring from future events.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at [email protected].