U-M Herbarium researchers are finding new ways to understand the world around us—through scent.

Recently, Dr. Aly Baumgartner, Collections Manager of Vascular Plants, and Dr. Thais Vasconcelos, Assistant Professor and Director of the U-M Herbarium, led ScentStories, an interactive program exploring the science and experience of smell. This event was part of the Farrand Lecture Series, supported through the generosity of donors to the Farrand Lecture Fund at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History.

They were joined by Michelle Krell Kydd, a professionally trained scent expert, for a hands-on “scent experience.”

Participants learned how to evaluate different scents and uncover the powerful memories and emotions they can evoke—all while gaining a new appreciation for the connections between plants, people, and the senses.

"At best, herbaria are unknown to the general public, and at worst, are thought of as dusty, old-fashioned warehouses of dead plants,” said Dr. Baumgartner. “I was excited to bring these plants back into the light and allow the public the opportunity to experience one of my favorite ways of interacting with herbarium specimens–by smell."

“I really enjoyed the chance to talk about the plant family I specialize in, Myrtaceae,” said Dr. Vasconcelos. “All 6,000 species in this family have oil glands in their leaves, and over time I’ve learned to recognize many of them just by their scent. I still remember being in the field one day and realizing I could identify plants in the jungle by smell — it’s such a powerful tool for distinguishing species.”

Missed the event? Watch a recording of the lecture here.