Take a whiff of this exhibit

They’ve been used in religious ceremonies, medicinal therapies and, most recently, as cosmetics or beauty aids. But whatever their purpose, perfumes have a long and colorful history that is explored in “The Foul and the Fragrant,” an exhibition and lecture series at USC’s Doheny Memorial Library.

Visitors can follow their noses to one of three scent stations, then feast their eyes on perfume books, illustrations, engravings, maps, oils, bottles and other paraphernalia.

Visitors can also sit in on lectures, demonstrations and discussions about odor perception (Oct. 7), natural perfume creation (Oct. 21) and ancient perfumery (Nov. 4).

“The history of mankind is wrapped up in the ingredients of perfume,” said Mandy Aftel, a Berkeley-based natural perfumer who co-curated the show. “The world was discovered around looking for spices. The wonderful flowers and romance of poetry. So much of our human experience has come from the ingredients and the lands where perfume came from. If you have a romantic bone in your body, you’re going to be interested.”

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The Foul and the Fragrant,” Doheny Memorial Library, USC, 3550 Trousdale Parkway, L.A. 8 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 10 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 17. Free. (213) 740-2070.