SMELLY SCIENCE

Baroness Alianor (Aliyah) bat Asriel Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)


Email: TheKissingCamels@gmail.com   Middle Kingdom - Pentamere - North Woods - Wealdlake

Table of Contents

Aliyah's Aromatics

A Brief History

How did "Smelly" Science come to be part of Medieval Arts & Sciences? There is an event in the region of Pentamere in the Middle Kingdom sponsored by the Canton of Wealdlake (Brighton, MI area) called "It Takes My Child to Raze a Village." It was created by SæhildR barngódR and its purpose was to emphasize that the SCA was not just for adults but could also be enjoyed by children of all ages. After running the event for a few years, SaehildR answered my "What can I do to help?" by saying, "We have activities for 4 out of 5 senses: we have things to listen to, things to taste, things to see, and things to feel; but we don't have anything for the nose. We need "Smelly Science." 

Aliyah’s Aromatics, a collection of balms, creams, and salts developed out of my Smelly Science research. I have always been a closet naturopath in my approach to healing.  My children will attest to the fact that my purse was never a portable pharmacy and the answer to, “I have a headache,” was “get a drink of water,” “are you hungry?” or “go take a nap.” I believe in the healing power of your own body, a cup of tea, a bowl of chicken soup, and a cool washcloth.  Diving down the research rabbit hole of herbs and healing exciting and interesting and even useful.

I make absolutely no claims of medical knowledge or medicinal value of any herb, spice, concoction, infusion, or distillation.  The information presented for any of the Smelly Science or Aliyah’s Aromatics activities or products is strictly for education purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition or disease.  As with anything, allergic reactions are possible in persons with certain sensitivities and your healthcare professional should be consulted if you have symptoms or questions.

The SCENTual Middle Ages

The very first question I hear at demonstrations for the general public is most often a very blunt, “Didn’t people stink in the olden days?” I would imagine our modern sense of smell would answer with an emphatic, “Absolutely!” However, I would also imagine medieval noses would find our modern world quite unpleasant smelling as well. The actual question being asked is, “We currently clean, freshen, and deodorize our environments, our belongings, and our persons; what, if anything, did people in the Middle Ages do to combat unpleasant odors?” The short answer is, “They cleaned, freshened, and deodorized their environments, belongings, and persons.”

It should also be noted that Parliament during the 14th century seemed to understand the need for cleanliness and its link to disease. Here is a proclamation they made in 1388:

"Item, that so much dung and filth of the garbage and entrails be cast and put into ditches, rivers, and other waters... so that the air there is grown greatly corrupt and infected, and many maladies and other intolerable diseases do daily happen... it is accorded and assented, that the proclamation be made as well in the city of London, as in other cities, boroughs, and towns through the realm of England, where it shall be needful that all they who do cast and lay all such annoyances, dung, garbages, entrails, and other ordure, in ditches, rivers, waters, and other places aforesaid, shall cause them utterly to be removed, avoided, and carried away, every one upon pain to lose and forfeit to our Lord the King the sum of 20 pounds..."

References for Smelly Science