Qtopia Exhibition — “Divine Transmission”
Qtopia, a visionary space dedicated to celebrating queer identities and stories, invited Olfactory Dept to create a bespoke scent experience for Divine Transmission, a deeply personal exhibition curated by Skye Paez. The exhibition honors trans journeys through storytelling, guided by the idea that we have always been divine — yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever.
The Challenge
To translate the exhibition’s themes of transformation, memory, and sacred identity into an immersive sensory layer that complements the visual and narrative elements without overwhelming them. The scent needed to be rare, elusive, and luxurious — a fragrant reflection of quiet power and enduring divinity.
The Solution
Olfactory Dept crafted a custom fragrance from its library, designed to echo the exhibition’s spirit. The scent opens with fresh, clear aldehydes and bergamot, symbolizing the divine spark and clarity of transformation. At its heart, rich amber and black orchid evoke complexity and mystery, while the base notes of birch tar, myrrh, frankincense, and cedarwood root the experience in ritual, ancestral memory, and sacred legacy.
Electric diffusers disperse this fragrance throughout the exhibition space, creating an ambient atmosphere that envelops visitors and deepens their emotional connection to the stories on display.
Additionally, the fragrance is available in the gift shop as a 50ml Eau de Parfum and a soy wax candle, allowing visitors to take a piece of the exhibition’s essence home with them.
Impact
By introducing a carefully crafted scent, Divine Transmission transforms from a visual and narrative experience into a multisensory journey. The fragrance acts as an invisible storyteller, evoking memory and emotion while subtly guiding visitors through the exhibition’s themes. It fosters a sense of intimacy and sacredness, making the space feel alive and personal.
The scent’s presence elevates the exhibition beyond traditional gallery norms, setting a new standard for how scent can enhance storytelling in cultural spaces. It strengthens the exhibition’s impact, leaving visitors with a lingering emotional resonance long after they leave.
The collaboration between Olfactory Dept and Qtopia exemplifies the power of scent to transform space and storytelling. Divine Transmission becomes not only a visual celebration of trans journeys but also an olfactory one, where every visitor is invited to breathe in a narrative of divinity, transformation, and enduring identity.