Numerous studies have shown that smell is the strongest of our five senses, and that scents are strongly tied to the recollection of memory, but when was the last time you saw a magician waft the smell of a slice of pizza in the audience’s direction in conjunction with a card trick? 

That’s what Jeanette Andrews does with her magic (though she tends to trade junk food for the smell of freshly-cut flowers), and that’s what she talks about in the most recent episode of the Magical Thinking podcast. Recently off a stretch at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Andrews talks about the inspiration behind her “interactive sensory illusions”, and why she enjoys the unique empathetic connection she shares with the audiences of her performances. 

Listen to the episode in the Soundcloud player above, or check out the podcast page over at Art of Magic. And if you want to see some examples of the work she’s created, watch the teaser video below, which shows off an art exhibit with a field of grass inside an elevator, a cocktail “garden” simulated entirely with sounds, smells, and humidity, and a magic trick involving seed packets and a literal ton of soil.

Scope out more of her fascinating work on her YouTube channel and by visiting her website.