Museum Store Perfume Experience with Liz Hull of Greige Perfumes

Perfumer and art historian Liz Hull offers an introduction to perfumery during this hands-on event. Hull describes the way she makes perfume as an “olfactive translation,” meaning she translates objects or experiences using the medium of perfume. Using this technique, she leads a discussion around Vaughn Spann’s painting Carolina Blues (Marked Man) (2021) to demonstrate how we use the same adjectives to describe visual art as we do for olfactive art.

With guidance from Hull, participants create their own 0.25 ounce perfume using Spann’s painting as inspiration. They learn about the history and techniques of perfumery, participate in a smelling of all the oils in Hull’s palette, and receive tips on how to wear perfume before embarking on their very own “olfactive translation.”

About the presenter
Liz Hull is an art historian, curator, and perfume lover. She was introduced to perfume as an art form while working with the artist Linder, who requested the gallery spaces be scented for her exhibition at Blum & Poe in 2014. Hull then worked with perfumers Persephenie and Sarah Horowitz. She sees perfume as another art form, much like dance or musical performance: ephemeral in nature and capable of eliciting intense emotion, passion, and beauty. Greige Olfactive Translations is her company that specializes in bespoke fragrances as well as offers a unique selection from the Greige line of perfumes.

Photo: Courtesy of Liz Hull