The Softness of Things
Week 10, Scent Fabric



Beavers. They use wood, for example, as a material to create dams.
What are "base" materials? Look at the table of elements. Iron,
copper, zinc are all materials. However, the form of them we use is a
processed, modified version. When thinking about what new material to
make, I had difficultly thinking whether to attempt an all new creation
or combine elements. Should I get a bunch of chemicals and start
playing? Or just add a few existing elements together like fabric and
metal?

I have been studying how to make perfumes recently. This involves
procuring perfumers alcohol, oils, and all the necessary tools. So, scent has
been on my mind. Why not try to add scent to fabric? I had an image of
cherries, I have no idea why, and I was crushing them and somehow
placing them on the fabric so it would smell and taste like cherry.
Regretfully, there is no cherry essential oil.

I also came to think placing the food on the fabric might be a bit
messy. So, instead I thought of painting the fabric to give it a sense
the smell that was on it. I tried this as well, but the nondescript
black fabric I choose to house the scent was better that way; there was
no reason to give hints with visuals.

Next I thought of ways to infuse the scent onto the fabric. Boiling and
trying to use the steam will change its fragrance, so no go. I could
make a spray, and try using that. Finally, I could put a swatch in the
dryer with a bit of oil and the fabric. After experimenting, I decided
spraying, and then putting the fabric in an airtight container for
several hours worked best.

One of the scents is grapefruit. The other is a surprise!
Can everyone guess it?!

As a side note, researchers have been looking into how to add scent to
textiles. A new method has been recently disovered where the scent and
color are combined into the fabric fiber, rather than being added on
later. The scent is released with the tiny capsules the smell is
contained within are broken from use (*1).

-- Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:51 -0500

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