The Scent Clock
The Scent Clock
Sensoria ✕ Olfactory Art by Patrick Palcic
The Scent Clock – There is something in the air
01 April to 31 October 2026 ///// Included in admission
Can time be smelled? At Sensoria – House of Fragrances and Flavours, this question becomes a unique sensory experience. From April to the end of October 2026, the museum presents an extraordinary installation by Berlin-based olfactory artist Patrick Palcic as part of the “Sensoria ✕ Olfactory Art” series: the Scent Clock.
This artistic work combines time and scent into a multisensory experience. At the top of every hour, a new fragrance unfolds – similar to a cuckoo clock where a bird appears. Here, however, the focus is not on sound, but on smell. Visitors are invited to pause, take a seat, and consciously experience the moment. A very personal connection emerges between scent and time – an experience that lingers in the memory.
A scent for every hour
The Scent Clock accompanies the museum day over twelve hours – from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Throughout the day, the fragrance compositions evolve, reflecting different moods.
In the morning, fresh and invigorating notes dominate, opening the day. Around midday, the scents become stimulating and energising, while in the evening they grow warmer, more sensual, and calming.
A particularly unusual scent awaits visitors at 6 p.m.: ambrette seed. Many people have never consciously experienced this fragrance before. It is warm, soft, and gently musky, unfolding with a calm and elegant depth.
The idea behind the Scent Clock
Patrick Palcic originally developed the Scent Clock as part of his bachelor’s thesis. For the project, he explored the perception of smell in depth and engaged in discussions with ENT specialists, olfactory researchers, and scent artists.
Historical inspirations also played a role: centuries ago in China, so-called dragon clocks measured time using scent and sound. This idea served as a starting point for the present installation.
The Scent Clock went through several stages of development – from a rotating, heated copper bowl to technical experiments with ultrasonic diffusers. In its current form, it consists of an elegant brass construction with twelve glass tubes. As the scents evolve throughout the day, the metal also develops a patina over time, telling its own story.
The artist
Berlin-based designer and olfactory artist Patrick Palcic works at the intersection of design, art, science, and olfactory experience. His fascination with scent began in childhood: the intense perfume of his grandmother sparked his early awareness of smells and their emotional impact.
Palcic studied Product and Process Design at the Berlin University of the Arts and later completed a Master’s degree in Design. During his studies, he began combining scents with objects and spatial installations.
His projects include the Berlin-based concept “Smell, Scents and Other Senses”, where he created an olfactory staging for the opening of an avant-garde fashion store. In this context, the scent shower “odor per imbrem” was also developed.
Palcic gained international recognition as a finalist at the prestigious Art and Olfaction Awards, where an international jury honours outstanding works in scent art.
Learn more about the artist: STUDIO PATRICK PALCIC – DESIGN & OLFACTORY
Experience olfactory art
With the presentation of the Scent Clock, Sensoria – House of Fragrances and Flavours continues its mission to make fragrances and flavours tangible as cultural and scientific phenomena. The installation is located in the foyer and is integrated into the museum tour. Every full hour, it introduces a new olfactory highlight – whether as an opening moment to your visit or as inspiration along the way.
The Scent Clock invites you to experience time in a different way: not in minutes and seconds, but in notes of fragrance. A sensory experience that encourages you to pause and slow down.
