Click on the photo for enlarged view
Long before the marketers and perfume houses got savvy, a display spilled the coal, er, the beans: the source of many of the synthetic aromachemicals used in perfumery since the 1880's were made from coal or petroleum sources. The lady in the photo seems to be raising a glass lid over a container that holds scent strips of the coal-derived scent, and the glass jars on top hold the natural materials of fragrance. I can identify rose and jasmine in the jars. Not much else to say about this, just that I do prefer the complexity, richness, sustainability and beauty of natural aromatics.

Anya McCoy founded the USA's first modern natural perfume line in 1991. Since then, she has nurtured and educated natural perfumers and hosts a discussion group for them. Anya is the Head Instructor at the Natural Perfumery Institute that she founded in 2007 to provide a professional course for perfumers. In 2006 she revived the Natural Perfumers Guild, a trade association. She is a recognized leader in the art and the 'go-to' person for anyone interested in natural perfume.
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I am a native Chicagoan who has been to the Museum of Science and Industry many times during my life. There used to be an exhibit on coal mining when I was a kid. I imagine this was a side-display for that exhibit. Wish I could say that I saw this display, but it was either gone by the 1960's or I never noticed it. Not very easy to identify the flowers in the 6 vases. From left to right, #1 is blocked by the lady,but must be Rose; #2 are white Carnations; #3 Jasmine; #4 Lilacs; #5 Orange blossoms; #6 picture too dark, but the leaves look familiar?
ReplyDeleteDavid Mark
Hi Mark,
DeleteI think there was still the coal mining exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry when I was a kid too, but I don't remember any scent display either.
Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI too think that there are carnations, jasmine and lilacs in there.
What a find!
HI David
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the woman in the photo on the postcard look like she's maybe from the early part of the 20th century? I'm thinking the 1920's.
Hi Helg:
ReplyDeleteI think this postcard is just great! I also got some great postcards from Fragonard in the 1940's - production cards.
Hi Anya,
ReplyDeleteWow! This is great. From the Museum of Science and Industry. When I was in grade school I swear we went there every year for a field trip. I always liked the Museum of Natural History better though, I've never been particularly interested in Science and especially not Industry! I was more fascinated by all sorts of animals and plants, people of other times and cultures and DINOSAURS! LOL! But unfortunately I was pretty much alone in this because we(both my family and my school) always went to the Museum of Science and Industry. I only went to the Natural History museum maybe two or three times.