<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/GoodenoughtoEat/F2F/sephora_sensorium.jpg" alt="sensorium" width="475" height="670" /></p>
The world of fragrance development is a highly creative, extremely competitive and somewhat mysterious one. It exists like a parallel universe - with similarities and terminology akin to the 'real world' - yet its principles and applications look and sound quite foreign to an outside observer. Fragrance dominates our life in more ways than we care to notice. From the smell of our mother when we are a newborn, to the waft of warm baked goods that comes from a bakery we pass every day on the way to work. The ability to smell and translate that smell into a memory happens to us every single day.

Quite often we only pay attention to that ability when the odour is one that insults us - blocked drains, garbage trucks or 'that' sweaty dude who doesn't seem to know how <em>deodorant</em> is spelled much less applied..

There are but a handful of companies in the world that produce the vast majority of fragrances that pervade our universe. These companies look at inspiration in a variety of places - a feeling, a location, a dream or aspiration and sometimes, in things that are as real and tangible as you or I. It also helps, to take inspiration and turn it on it's head - to make it somewhat absurd or surreal { synesthesia anyone? }, in order to produce something unique, exciting and sellable. 

For years one company who has pioneered such inspirational vehemence is Firmenich - one of the leading firms in fragrance development. They host a private annual event known simply as 'Sensorium'. The Sensorium is an invitation only tactile exhibit that forces the attendees to look at fragrance in ways and means that defy common perception. It fuels ingenuity to any and all creative persons. I had the privilege to attend several Sensorium's in years past, and each time I found myself literally mouth-opened, brain bubbling with ideas. For me, it enabled the birth of creative writing, inventive cooking and fashion curation. 

For the first time ever, Firmenich have paired with <a href="http://www.sephora.com">Sephora</a> to bring the Sensorium to the <a href="http://www.sephora.com/go/sensorium/">general public</a>. Titled: <strong>Lucid dreams from the Sensory World</strong>, the limited engagement opened last Friday and ends November 27th. Cost of entry is $15 which will be applied to a $15 Sephora gift card. I cannot emphasize how much I recommend any and everyone attend. This is a rare opportunity to see and smell some of the most innovative things that whirl around us as the parallel universe of fragrance briefly overlaps our world. 

For all your foodies, I have it on good authority that there is a 'Bacon and Biscuits' fragrance as well as a toast and butter one. 