How fancy is your sense of smell? I got to witness Suave (courtesy of PR) hilariously prank unsuspecting locals with their body wash scents in Austin, Texas under the guise of an unbranded fancy art installation that tested just that. It was called “Under Your Nose: An Exhibit of Scent,” which promised to give visitors an unforgettable olfactory experience and they delivered.
Guests were lured via the internet and plucked off the street to visit the temporary space. Once they arrived they had to sign waivers and get mic’d up because a “documentary” of the exhibit was being filmed. Despite all of the staff and buzz around the venue, the Mexican-American family I got to follow did not seem to suspect that they were being set up at all.
The moment you stepped into the gallery you felt like you were in a futuristic scene straight out of HBO’s Westworld . Plastic orbs were set up in black frames spread out throughout the space that contained the scents we would be enjoying. We were greeted by an elegant hostess in a black dress, which completely set the tone of what appeared to be a luxurious experience.