04
Field: Scent, Culture and Nature
Overview
We observe the scents that plants produce, and record the relationships among plants, seasons, the environment, and scent.
Research Perspectives
From the Research Notes
“Plant scent can be thought of as one clue for reading the relationship between a plant and its environment.”
— From the research note “How Plant Scents Reflect Their Environment”
“Observe. Measure. Record. And then think.”
— From the research note “How Plant Scents Reflect Their Environment”
The scents released by plants are not merely pleasant smells. The production and release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) involve not only the plant's own state, but also temperature, light, and the surrounding environment. …
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How has scent been treated and felt within Japanese culture? Taking fragrant wood, incense, literature, religion, and everyday life as our clues, we consider the relationship between the people of Japan and scent. …
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