Scented power in Public Space

When ritual becomes persuasion — and beauty hides intention

A narrow Lisbon street.A priest in full ceremonial dress.A censer swinging rhythmically, filling the air with the unmistakable scent of burning resin.The street becomes silent. People pause, watch, even soften.

It’s easy to see this as tradition.

Nostalgic.

Beautiful.

Almost cinematic.

But what struck me most wasn’t just the sensory layering — it was the power dynamic beneath it. Because this isn’t just ritual. It’s communication. It’s performance. It’s influence.

But do we really see what we’re looking at?

Historically, these public displays — especially within religious systems — weren’t only meant to connect people with something higher. They were crafted to convince, to control, to direct emotion through the senses.

Gowns as authority. Smoke as sacred.Scent as submission.

And maybe that’s the most interesting part:

We stand on the sidelines in 2025 and say: "Wow, so moving.""So timeless."

But do we really see what we’re looking at?

Public space is still used to transmit messages —But are we aware of who’s designing them?

Are we conscious of how space, scent, and spectacle still steer collective feeling?

For me, this is the core of sensory design.

To work not just with beauty — but with responsibility. To understand that what we create is felt deeply. And that manipulation often comes wrapped in aesthetics.

Not everything sacred is safe.

Not everything scented is soft.

Let’s stay awake — and be curious, ask questions......