Wine, Roses, and Chocolate: How Romance and Science Work Together to Sweeten the Dark Days of February
We all want our days (and nights) to be filled with wine, roses, and chocolate, evoking feelings of enjoyment and happiness, but there is a fair amount of science behind all that romance. Fermentation and distillation processes are critical to chocolate, rose oil, and wine, and centuries of science and craft have gone into their manufacture.
How do 60,000 roses become an ounce of rose oil, or a handful of cacao beans become a Hershey bar? And, more to the point, what are the molecules that make them so appealing to us all?
Join a master flavorist, an essential oil specialist, and a chemist of wine as they uncover the unseen molecular world of these favorites and the science that delivers them. Also joining us will be Shane Confectionery with delicious artisan chocolates and Venus Invictus vending their alluring perfumes throughout the evening.
Agenda
5pm–7pm
Valentine’s Day card making and interactive scent activity in the museum
6pm–7pm
Immersive featured talks on essential oils and wine
7pm–8pm
Reception
As a courtesy to our presenters, our door policy stipulates that all guests must arrive before 7pm.
Othmer Library Tours
We are now giving public tours of our research library every First Friday! Come by before the event at 4pm to get a behind-the-scenes look upstairs at the resources and archives available to all scientifically curious minds. Registration is not required, but space is limited. Learn more here.
About First Fridays
Spark your curiosity while exploring the exhibits after hours! First Fridays bring together a myriad of activities covering everyday science, historical oddities, and everything in between. Grab your friends, and kick off an evening of discovery, surprise, and a little nerdy fun.
First Fridays at the Institute are always free and open to the public. Attendees will receive a 10% discount to National Mechanics restaurant.
About This Event
“Wine, Roses, and Chocolate: How Romance and Science Work Together to Sweeten the Dark Days of February” is also part of our Joseph Priestley Society (JPS) series. Named for the 18th-century scientist who discovered oxygen, JPS promotes a deeper understanding of science, technology, and industry, with an emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Speakers are leaders from a wide variety of large and small chemical companies and the financial, consulting, and academic communities. Watch past events at sciencehistory.org/jpsvideos.
Featured image: “The Unsolved Secret of the Rose,” advertisement for Dow Aromatics Division, 1942
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