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Fragrance has always been more than a sensory experience. It carries memories, stories and connections with places. At the first anniversary celebration of Guangzhou Xuelei Fragrance Museum, Dr. Chen Yiwei and Dr. Cecilia Bembibre joined the professional forum “How Fragrance Becomes a New Gateway to Urban Culture”, exploring how fragrance can connect cultural heritage with contemporary experiences.

Dr. Chen Yiwei shared her research on the smellscapes of Lingnan gardens, beginning with the region’s unique identity as a “land of abundant fragrances.” She introduced the common aromatic plants found in Lingnan gardens and their unique scent characteristics, while exploring how traditional gardens create immersive smellscapes and the aesthetic sentiment behind them. Using plants such as plum blossoms, lotus, spanish jasmine, osmanthus, and buddha's hand citron as examples, she combined historical records with garden cases to show how plants, scents, and space come together to create poetic and elegant living environments. She also shared insights into how the culture of smellscapes can inspire modern approaches to everyday aesthetics and the appreciation of beauty in daily life.

Cecilia Bembibre introduced her research on “Olfactory Heritage,” exploring the unique value of smell as a form of cultural heritage. She presented how the European Odeuropa project uses artificial intelligence, analysis of historical sources, and scent reconstruction techniques to discover and recreate lost smells from the past. Through examples such as the pomander and the recreation of the smells of Amsterdam’s canals, she combined historical paintings, social contexts, and trade records to reveal the deep connections between scent, human memory, urban life, and cultural heritage. She also explored how olfactory experiences can bring new possibilities to museum exhibitions and the preservation and communication of cultural heritage.（This section was presented on behalf of the speaker by Dr. Zhou Tongyue.）

During the presentations, scent strips related to the topics were prepared for the audience, allowing everyone to experience the fragrances discussed through their own sense of smell. From the natural aromas of plants in Lingnan gardens to the recreation of scents from the past, each scent brought the stories behind them to life and helped the audience discover the connection between fragrance and culture.

At the event, Xuelei Fragrance Museum created a dedicated exhibition area inspired by the themes shared by Dr. Chen Yiwei and Dr. Cecilia Bembibre. The exhibition extended the conversation beyond the lecture space. Visitors were invited to slow down, explore at their own pace, and immerse themselves in a sensory environment that combined fragrance and visual elements, allowing the exchange of ideas about scent to continue in a more engaging and personal way.