This week’s historical disaster
The Great Stink of 1858
A weekly dose of macabre history, gently pressed into your hands like a haunted educational pamphlet.
For years, London dumped sewage, factory waste, slaughterhouse runoff, and nearly every other regrettable substance into the Thames.
Then came a brutal summer heatwave. (Obviously this week’s post was inspired by our current heat wave.)
The river warmed up and began releasing a smell so foul it earned an official name: The Great Stink.
The odor became so violent it invaded the Houses of Parliament. Curtains were soaked in chemicals. Officials considered leaving the building.
Imagine ignoring a river full of human waste until it personally arrives at work.
London had already suffered deadly cholera outbreaks, but many people still blamed “bad air” instead of contaminated water. (I wish that excuse still worked.)
Once Parliament’s expensive curtains started smelling like consequences, action became remarkably swift.
Engineer Joseph Bazalgette was brought in to build a massive sewer system and introduce London to the radical idea of putting sewage somewhere else.
Was the Thames essentially an open toilet?
Yes.
Did Parliament finally care when the toilet began breathing back?
Also yes.
History proves reform moves much faster once the wealthy can smell it. I guess some things never change.
Seance scent pairing
This week’s pairing is basically any of our scents… because when you write a post about poop sewage… actually, I don’t know how to finish that sentence.
www.seanceperfumes.com · @seanceperfumes
