By Ben Marks — In the fall of 2016, the greatest offense to the olfactory organs of most Americans was undoubtedly the cesspool stench emanating from that year's presidential election. But a few hundred years ago, the actual smell of civilization was so bad that some people carried offsetting aromas with them in devices such as pomanders and vinaigrettes. "Proper ladies didn’t have a lot to do in those days." For 25 years, tussie-mussies have been the obsession of Irene Deitsch, whose book, , was...

Our Pungent History: Sweat, Perfume, and the Scent of Death

By Hunter Oatman-Stanford — Consider the sweet, intoxicating smell of a rose: While it might seem superficial, the bloom's lovely odor is actually an evolutionary tactic meant to ensure the plant’s survival by attracting pollinators from miles away. Since ancient times, the rose’s aroma has also drawn people under its spell, becoming one of the most popular extracts for manufactured fragrances. Although the function of these artificial scents has varied widely—from incense for spiritual ceremonies to perfumes for...

The Killer Mobile Device for Victorian Women

By Hunter Oatman-Stanford — Adrift in a sea of digital apps for every imaginable function, we often feel our needs are met better today than in any previous era. But consider the chatelaine, a device popularized in the 18th century that attached to the waist of a woman's dress, bearing tiny useful accessories, from notebooks to knives. In many ways chatelaines provided better access to such objects than we have today: How often have you searched for your keys or cell phone at the bottom of a cavernous...

Purse Perfection: Judith Leiber on Faberge, Rhinestones, and Her Favorite First Ladies

By Maribeth Keane and Bonnie Monte — When I was a girl, my mother had a lot of wonderful handbags. My dad traveled often in Western Europe. Every time he came home he brought her a beautiful bag. Some of the bags came from Vienna, where my mother was born and raised. She also had bags from France, England, and Spain. My father used to buy them from all over the place. Before the war, there were laws in Hungary that prevented Jews from going to university. If you were Jewish and wanted to attend a university, you had to go...

Abigail Rutherford on the History of Vintage Handbags

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn — Even as a young girl, I was interested in the historical aspect of handbags. I probably started collecting in high school when I became more aware of my own tastes. I went to a small art school for college and did a lot of studio work, even though I was an art history major. Eventually, I went to one of Leslie Hindman’s auctions and talked to her about the historical side of things versus the mass market of today’s fashion world. She took a chance and hired me as the director of vintage...