A special fragrance-themed exhibition titled "The Unceasing Aura" opened at the Xuelei Fragrance Museum in Guangdong's capital city, Guangzhou, on March 26, offering visitors a journey through more than 400 years of fragrance history—from royal courts to everyday homes.
Xuelei Fragrance Museum is a Guinness-World-Record-recognized museum as the world's largest fragrance museum.
Running until May 31, the exhibition features over 200 scent-related displays. Visitors can experience the same scents once worn by historical figures such as Louis XIV, Napoleon, and Queen Catherine de' Medici, recreated by the museum based on historical records.
Additionally, interactive installations help visitors connect with shared olfactory experiences, from the powdery scent of a mother's dressing table in childhood to the familiar fragrance of soap from their younger years.
Here is our definitive guide to the exhibition's unmissable scents and installations.
Fragrance Started As Symbol of Power: From Plague Protection to Royal Court
1. Medici Queen's Water–Plague-era Florence
Visitors can smell the recreated scents based on historical records through a sniffing machine in the middle.
After the shadow of the Black Death in the 14th century, strong scents were believed to ward off disease. The so-called "Queen's Water" was essentially a plague tincture—applied to the body, clothes, and rooms as protection. Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France, introduced the daily use of rose water into the vinegar-based perfume tradition for epidemic prevention, laying the foundation for early French court fragrance customs and hygiene rituals.
The exhibition displays scents and fragrance-related devices, too.
Don't miss: The recreated scent is more than just fresh—it's a complex blend of herbs and rose, evoking a time when fragrance meant safety.
2. Angel's Water & The Sun King's Breath – The Court of Louis XIV
Louis XIV, described as "the most fragrant king,"avoided bathing due to medical fears and relied heavily on perfume to mask odors. The Palace of Versailles even had fountains that sprayed different scents daily. These two fragrances were the olfactory symbols of absolute monarchy, crafted from expensive ingredients like orange blossom and iris.
Don't miss: These are heavy, commanding scents—not about freshness, but power. You'll detect notes that smell like pepper, orange, and leather, with an unmistakable intensity.
3. Royal Eau de Cologne – Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon was a devoted fan of eau de cologne. Its light, citrus-herbal scent reminded him of his birthplace, Corsica. He carried it with him during military campaigns, using it constantly. This fresh style was revolutionary at the time, breaking from the heavy perfumes of the aristocracy.
Don't miss: A rare "masculine" scent in the exhibition—clean, energetic, and bold. It's the ancestor of modern cologne.
Fragrance Enters Daily Life–Memories from the Department Store
1. From Court to Household Section
With the Industrial Revolution, synthetic fragrance ingredients made perfume more affordable, and clever marketing brought it into department stores and homes. This section showcases how scent became a part of daily life across the globe. The display features hundreds of 20th-century items—from Miss Dior talcum powder and Nina Ricci soaps to Chinese classics like Florida water, cold cream, and powder foundation.
Don't miss: This area may bring back childhood scents you'd almost forgotten. It's a great spot to share memories with friends over familiar smells.
2. Scent Stories Audio Installation
Here, scent meets sound and emotion. The museum spent a month collecting interviews from various places, asking people about unforgettable scents, collective memory fragrances, and the smells of their hometowns. The recordings are played through three audio stations—like picking up a call from a stranger, each telling a story shaped by scent. It's unexpected, warm, and deeply human.
Visitor Tips
Admission: The Unceasing Aura exhibition is free.
Address: No.1 Ketai 2nd Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou.
Opening Hours:
· Workdays: 10:00–19:00 (last entry 18:30)
· Holidays & Weekends: 10:00–20:00
After exploring the exhibition, don't rush off—the museum also offers an AI fragrance creation experience where you can blend your own personalized scent. For more on exploring the Xuelei Fragrance Museum, check out our previous coverage:
Journey to world's largest fragrance museum
World's largest fragrance museum redefines perfume
Guinness World Records recognizes Xuelei Fragrance Museum in Guangzhou as world's largest
Reporter | Huang Xinyi
Photo | Huang Xinyi, Xuelei Fragrance Museum
