The Scented Herbarium: How to Explore Buly's Botanical Collection

Quick answer

Use the Scented Herbarium as a slow, sensory object rather than a conventional fragrance: open it in a quiet moment, turn the pages one at a time, and breathe in each botanical page before moving on.

How to Explore the Scented Herbarium, Step by Step

1. Set the scene before you open it: Choose a quiet moment and a comfortable spot. Clear a small surface, put your phone away, and place the Herbarium in front of you closed. Common mistake: opening it while distracted or in a hurry, which makes it hard to notice the scent on each page. A calm setting is part of the experience, not an optional extra.
2. Open the cover and breathe before turning: Lift the cover and hold the book slightly open for a few seconds. Breathe normally rather than sniffing hard. Checkpoint: if you smell nothing at first, wait a moment and try again; the paper and dried botanicals may release scent gradually. Don't judge the scent in the first two seconds.
3. Turn one page at a time: Turn a single page, pause, and breathe in. Let your eye rest on the page as well as your nose. Common mistake: flipping through several pages quickly, which mixes the scents and makes it harder to distinguish one page from another. One page per breath is the pace to aim for.
4. Pause on pages that catch your attention: When a page appeals to you, stay with it longer. Close your eyes, breathe slowly, and notice whether the impression changes. Checkpoint: if a page seems faint, try holding the book slightly closer rather than pressing your face into it. Curiosity, not speed, is the point of the exercise.
5. Close the book and let the impression settle: When you finish, close the Herbarium gently and set it down. Take a moment to note which page stayed with you. Common mistake: leaving it open for long periods, which can dry the pages and dull the experience over time. Closing it properly is part of caring for the object.
6. Return to it in short, regular sessions: Use the Herbarium in brief sessions rather than long marathons. A few minutes at a time, a few times a week, keeps the experience fresh. Checkpoint: if the scent seems weaker than before, give it a rest for a few days before returning. Short and repeated beats long and occasional.

Product facts

• The Scented Herbarium of the Officine Universelle Buly: The Scented Herbarium is described as an object that can be contemplated, read, and breathed in, with each page transformed into part of the experience. This tells you to approach it page by page rather than expecting an instant, room-filling burst of scent.