What to Bear in Mind When Visiting the Olfactory Exhibition “Light and Shadow”

Light and Shadow, the olfactory exhibition by scent artist Rei Nguyen, opens up a distinctive space where stories are told in the subtle language of scent. It continues a series of olfactory art exhibitions, this time exploring the contrast between light and darkness. If you are preparing for what promises to be a memorable visit, let us run through the points worth knowing so that you can take in this art space in full. To appreciate how well art and the sense of smell go together, do not miss these articles: “New Ways of Experiencing Art: Olfactory Art – How Scent Tells Stories” and “The Art of Storytelling Through Scent: When Fragrance Becomes a Language”. They will help you see more clearly what scent means, and how much power it has to carry feeling and story.

1. Let your mind settle and lose yourself in the story of the scents

Unlike a conventional exhibition, Light and Shadow is more than a room displaying scents composed for the occasion; it is a way into the depths of feeling and memory. Each scent, each light and each shadow carries a story, a layer of meaning of its own. Let yourself be open to those layers, and to the stories hidden deep within them that only the sense of smell can tell.

2. Each room is one piece of an emotional whole

The exhibition is laid out as a series of symbolic spaces, each expressing a different side of light or of darkness. Moving from one area to the next is about more than finding scents: the route is designed so that the feeling flows unbroken, leading you from stillness and mystery to warmth and radiance.

3. Listen to the story behind each scent

Inside the exhibition, visitors are guided through each layer of scent by an exclusive audio commentary in which Rei Nguyen — scent artist and the creator of R Parfums — explains in her own voice the story behind each creation. To enjoy it in full, bring your own headphones, as only a limited number of audio devices will be available at the event.

4. A special gift from R Parfums

Remember that the perfumes exclusive to the exhibition are all made by Rei Nguyen, the perfumer behind R Parfums’ creations. The first 50 visitors will have the chance to receive a special 2 ml vial of perfume, made especially for the olfactory exhibition. It is a fine keepsake, and also a piece of memory from an art experience that is hard to forget.

5. Feel the contrast between light and darkness

One of the high points of Light and Shadow is the way scent is used to express the two faces of light and darkness, opposed and yet intertwined. You will not only smell this subtle change but feel it, through the way the rooms and the scents are arranged.

6. Try your hand at the writing contest “A Letter to Self”

Running alongside Light and Shadow, the contest “A Letter to Self” invites you to turn back time or to imagine your own future. Write to the person you were five years ago and revisit the things you never had the chance to say, or send the hopes, dreams and feelings of today to the person you will be ten years from now. A special prize for the winner: a 50 ml bottle of Shadow Éclat — the newest artistic scent from R Parfums — will be awarded to the finest story. Dates: 21 January – 20 February 2025. How to take part: send your story online, or write it in person at Light and Shadow. Requirements: at least 350 words; you are encouraged to attach a photograph that brings out the feeling of your story. Submission link: https://forms.gle/PHKdrBicNHBrGePKA. Results: the most remarkable story will be announced between 25 February and 5 March 2025 on R Parfums’ channels.

7. Dress for the space

Comfortable clothes that suit an art space will help you feel more at ease. The exhibition is designed to be taken in individually, so please keep bags, backpacks and bulky clothing to a minimum, letting everyone around you enjoy it to the full. The lighting, in particular, may give you the chance to take some striking photographs to remember your visit by.

Give yourself time to explore Light and Shadow. It is an occasion to enjoy art, and also a way deep into your own inner world. And remember: the perfumes you receive here are not only gifts but part of a story R Parfums would like you to keep always.