The Smell of Scotland: History, Heritage and Practice

From the sweet scent of yellow gorse to the rich aromas of Scotch whisky, from the pungent stench of medieval Edinburgh to the smoky air of industrial Glasgow, Scotland’s ‘smellscapes’ are deeply evocative. But odours do more than just trigger memory—they shape history. This lecture takes you on an olfactory tour, uncovering how Scotland’s unique scents are entangled with its environment, industrial identity, and global connections. Join us to discover how history doesn’t just look a certain way—it smells.

Dr Huang is Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies and Sensory History at the University of Edinburgh. She is the author of Scents of China: A Modern History of Smell (Cambridge, 2023), Shanghai Filmmaking: Crossing Borders, Connecting to the Globe, 1922–1938 (Brill, 2014), and the co-editor of Sensing China: Modern Transformations of Sensory Culture (Routledge, 2022) and the special issue ‘The Smell of Scotland: Deodorisation, Identity, Worldmaking’ (The Scottish Historical Review 105.2, August 2026).

This will be a hybrid event which will take place both in Augustine United Church and live-streamed online, with the recording uploaded to our YouTube channel and Spotify account shortly after the lecture. Please keep an eye on the Society website and e-newsletters for the latest news and further information on Society events.

Doors open at 5:45pm. The main lecture will be preceded by a short presentation by early career researcher Gemma McLean-Carr entitled Seeing Stench: Race, Identity and Odour in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Scotland.

The lecture will be followed by a Q&A. In-person attendees are also welcome to stay for a free drinks reception from approximately 7pm where you can discuss the debate and other interests with the speakers, Society Fellows and other attendees.

All in-person and online attendees of this event are entitled to £5 off the purchase of any Society book.

Books will be available to purchase from our stall at Augustine United Church at the event, and online attendees will receive a code in their reminder emails to use in our online shop, which will be valid until midnight (UK time) on Saturday 13 February 2027.

Please note: Fellows who are logged in receive a 20% discount on books at checkout on the Society's online shop. This may be combined with the £5 off event discount code. The 20% off for Fellows is an online-only discount and is not redeemable in person at the venue.

Booking is essential for members of the public and Fellows of the Society. If you have reserved a ticket and can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket via Eventbrite or contact [email protected] to allow someone else to take your place.

The Society has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment and bullying.

All attendees are requested to act with respect to one another during this hybrid event.

Anyone making comments which we believe to be inappropriate (for example, offensive or abusive) will be removed from the event immediately. Equivalent procedures (for example, with regards to spam) will apply online.

To help to tackle climate change and decrease congestion and pollution from cars, the Society encourages you to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport to travel to and from this event if possible.

Lothian Buses run services along George IV Bridge, Forrest Road and nearby South Bridge. There are also bicycle racks directly outside the venue.

The main entrance to the church is up four steps with a handrail.

A standard accessible toilet is available on the ground floor and lower level (accessible via lift).

Assistance dogs are welcome inside the venue.

Please note, the hearing loop facility is unavailable. The venue is working on a replacement and hope to have it up and running soon. We apologise for any inconvenience.

If attending via Zoom, captions are included.

If you require step-free access or any other assistance to enjoy the event as an online or in-person attendee, please let us know by answering the accessibility question at booking.

If there are any other ways we can make this event more accessible for you (as an online or an in-person attendee), please give us details at the booking stage. Thank you.

You can find further information on the venue’s accessibility on the Augustine United Church website.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed at this event are solely those of the event organisers. They do not necessarily reflect the policies, positions, or views of Augustine United Church.

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is grateful for our Fellows across the globe whose support enables us to make these event free and open to all.

Founded in 1780, the Society is an independent heritage charity with a global Fellowship. We facilitate research through grants and awards, advocate as a voice for heritage, and share knowledge of the past through events, publications and projects.

Anyone who is interested in Scotland’s past can apply to become a Fellow. In addition to helping to support the Society achieve its aims and charitable objectives, benefits of Fellowship include exclusive online access to all articles in the most recent Proceedings – the Society’s annual peer-reviewed journal, the use of FSAScot postnominals, discounts on Society publications (20%) and some events, and invitations to Fellows-only tours and Online Fellows’ Meetings.

To find out more, please visit our website or sign up to the Society's free public e-newsletter.

For the past decade, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has been working towards a transformative vision: to create a new home for the Society and a national heritage hub for Scotland.

But we need your help to make this vision a reality. Visit our website for more information on the project and to find out how you can support the fundraising campaign.

Images: 'Piping Aboard the Haggis' by an unknown artist, National Galleries of Scotland, https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/177163; 'Close, No. 93 High Street' by Thomas Annan, National Galleries of Scotland, https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/9025; Industrial Landscape Glasgow by Ian Fleming, © The Fleming Family, https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/15898; Fellows at an exclusive event (© Society of Antiquaries of Scotland); Artist’s impression of the Bristo Place Building (© Benjamin Tindall Architects).

Event venue & nearby stays

Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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