The Perfume Stories project, active in prisons across the northern region of England, is employing the power of scent to unlock memories and stimulate creativity. The initiative uses fragrance as a tool to invoke reflection and instill hope among inmates, encouraging them to reevaluate their pasts and potential futures.
Everyday smells like violin rosin, a football changing room, or rosewater have the potential to trigger deep-seated recollections. Illustrator Michael O’Shaughnessy, head of the initiative, describes the process as simple yet incredibly profound. Prisoners are asked to sample a perfume, then detail the memories it arouses. The effects can be transformative, akin to a sudden light being switched on.
The participants are inmates serving sentences in various northern England prisons. O’Shaughnessy offers an eclectic collection of perfumes, including both classic French fragrances and custom-mixed scents. The smells often serve as a catalyst for self-reflection, redemption, and transient freedom, as they ignite memories that transport the inmates beyond their current confines.
The Perfume Stories project originated in O’Shaughnessy’s illustration classes at Liverpool John Moores University, where he used scents to incite childhood memories, aiding students in developing ideas for art projects. This multi-sensory approach proved effective in engaging all students, regardless of their existing capabilities. The concept was later showcased at Tate Liverpool, where it caught the attention of Novus, a prison education provider. O’Shaughnessy eagerly accepted the proposal to implement his project within prison settings, where it has since flourished.
The workshops aren’t just a nostalgic journey; they provide a creative gateway into adult learning by challenging traditional educational approaches and advocating alternative perspectives. Participants are encouraged to jot down their experiences and share them aloud, boosting their confidence and sparking interest in other academic programs.
Scent-triggered memories tend to be positive, often revolving around matriarchal figures like a mother or grandmother. Some inmates recall playing with their grandmother’s beauty products or buying sweets from a local store. The immersive experience of the workshops has been described by participants as a form of “mental escapism”, a “positive experience”, and even “magic”.
O’Shaughnessy has expanded his workshops to other prisons in the north-west and has collaborated with Lancashire-based perfume manufacturer, Caravansons, to create a unique aroma kit. The workshops have inspired practical skills training in areas like cooking, barbering, and business studies. The unique learning approach has been so successful that O’Shaughnessy has started training prison staff to conduct these workshops independently.
While Perfume Stories can’t reverse past mistakes or shorten prison sentences, they can unlock joyful, reflective, or healing experiences, fostering positive change, rehabilitation, and redemption. As one prisoner eloquently put it, “The more I can imagine my future – the greater the possibility.”
