Shakespeare’s Roses: ‘Sweetest Odours’
at Shakespeare's New Place
From 18 June 2025 | Included in admission
Visit this new, immersive sensory experience that blends history, botany, and digital scent technology to explore the story of roses. From the humble native dog rose to the luxurious imported damask rose.
This summer explore the fragrant world of rose perfumery with Sweetest Odours, a new interactive exhibition featuring innovative scent technology from the University of Warwick’s School of Engineering and scents supplied by one of Britain’s oldest-established perfumeries, Floris.
You will have the opportunity to trace the journey of roses along the trade routes that brought these exotic aromas to England, via Damascus and Persia. Discover how roses were used as ingredients in medicines and cosmetics, as well as transforming Elizabethan perfumery techniques.
At the heart of the exhibition is an engaging look at the art of distillation, the ‘scientific’ process used to extract essential oils from fragrant plants like roses, violets and lavender. Learn how Shakespeare and his contemporaries understood scent-making, and how rosewater and rose oil were crafted using traditional copper stills and glass alembics.
Shakespeare’s Roses: ‘Sweetest Odours’ has been developed in partnership with the University of Warwick’s School of Engineering, Floris and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
The exhibition is included in your admission to Shakespeare’s New Place.