What is it: two tickets to visit the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents in Berkeley, California. You must sign up for your timed visit by July 1, 2018 (you don't have to visit by then, but you have to arrange for your tickets by then), so if you don't think you'll have a chance to be in Berkeley during 2017 or 2018, it probably doesn't make sense to enter.
How do I get it: For a chance to win, leave a comment on the website telling me what you'd like to see most at the museum — the stash of a hundred year old oils from Rimmel Perfumes? The antique fragrance books? Or do you just want the chance to smell things from the collection of 300+ natural essences? (Or, really, just say anything. If you don't say anything there's no way to enter.)
Be sure to use the “Post a comment” box; do not reply to another comment! All replies to comments will be deleted!
The contest will be open until noon or so next Friday, then I'll announce the winner on Monday (7/10).
The fine print: Don't enter the contest unless I have permission to use the email address in your reader account to contact you. If the email address in your reader account is incorrect, you might want to fix it.
Oh! I think I’d like to sniff the collection of essences. I can easily make it there.
I want to smell ALL the things.
I would love to see all the antique fragrance books!
Anything.
(Giggle.)
I love scent-related museums! I’ve been to the Fragonard tours in Paris and Grasse, and the perfume museum in Grasse, and they were all wonderful. Mostly I want to get an American take on scent; I’m pretty over French takes on most things for now.
I would love to smell.
You have permission to use my email. We are actually planning a visit there.
Well, smelling things is at the top of my list, but I’d love to see the book collection, too. Since I confess this is the first I’ve heard of this museum, can you share a little more about it, and how we can go if we don’t win tickets?
I’d love to smell all the oils, especially the antique ones!
Would love to win! Permission to email me granted 🙂
I would love to smell the ambergris! 🙂
Please let me smell!
Going to visit my sister in Berkley this summer. This would be such fun!
I live within walking distance of Berkeley, and I would love to smell any of the scents there at the Archive, but mostly either galbanum or iris root, given my enduring love of Chanel No 19 and desire to branch out– including from aldehydes into naturals. I completely lost my sense of smell for several years a long time ago, and so I especially appreciate my mostly functioning though untutored nose. I’ve relished everything I’ve read and heard about Mandy Aftel’s work.