The Smellscapes of History
What does history smell like? That is the sole quest of KLEIO — dusting off the pages of history to recreate the aromas of a particular time and place.
Did you know that there are historians who specifically study the past's smellscapes? These olfactive historians specifically study history's past aromas. It is a fascinating field of research that helps us better understand all facets of life once lived. KLEIO relies on the incredible scholarship of historians, both ancient and present day, who have produced marvelous texts, books, and articles on the aromas and smellscapes of the past.
When researching potential KLEIO candle concepts, we pore over scores of sources. Whenever possible, we prefer to extract information from primary sources and have been fortunate to have found primary sources for many of the candle concepts currently on the shelf. Those findings are detailed, along with the fascinating history behind each candle.
Once we have gathered enough primary and secondary source material, KLEIO attempts to recreate the aromas associated with the candle's chief focus (i.e., time, place, or person/s) based on the historical record. Through multiple rounds of trial and testing, we develop a formula that attempts to stay as true to the origin as possible, bringing the aromas of times past to life once again.
You may be interested to know that many candle concepts never make it to the shelf. There are a number of reasons but primarily, it is due to difficulty finding a suitable modern replication of the aroma. For example, many aromas from the past feature formulations that include animal byproducts, such as civet and ambergris. And it perhaps goes without saying that much of past history is not especially well suited for candlemaking. It is filled with smells that frankly would not have many 21st century noses pleased.
INTERPRETING THE PAST
KLEIO candles are an interpretation of our olfactive past. Short of climbing into a time machine to experience the aromas firsthand, KLEIO makes every attempt to stay as close to the historical source material as possible when creating its candle fragrance formulations.
But in a way, we hope that the KLEIO candle is that time machine — that you can become a time traveler without even leaving your home. Our desire is for you to imagine what it was like to work alongside Leonardo da Vinci as he was extracting fragrance oils from roses, jasmine, and lavender. Or to smell the aromatic royal concoctions of Tapputi, the world's first recorded chemist. Or to sit across from Henry VIII as pines after Anne Boleyn, contemplating England's break with Rome. We hope that our candles provide an escape, a momentary adventure to days long past and the aromas of long ago.
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Time Travel is Possible
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