The launch ceremony for the documentary Scent of China was held in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, from Sunday to Monday, bringing together more than 100 guests from the cultural, academic and industrial sectors.
The eight-part series will trace the origins and evolution of China's 5,000-year fragrance tradition while exploring the growth of its modern fragrance industry.
The documentary aims to stand out for its broad scope, academic depth, artistic quality and contemporary perspective. It will offer a comprehensive visual record of Chinese fragrance culture, connecting its long history while helping audiences better understand a little-known part of the country's cultural heritage.
Each 30-minute episode follows the story of Chinese civilization through scent. Covering history, culture, industry, innovation and aesthetics, the series explores fragrance from multiple perspectives, highlighting its place in Chinese civilization and its lasting influence on everyday life. It also seeks to deepen appreciation of the knowledge and traditions behind China's fragrance culture while encouraging new ways of thinking about modern lifestyles.
The production team will conduct in-depth field research in China's key fragrance industry clusters, showcasing the transformation and upgrading from traditional Chinese incense-making to the modern aromatic industry, as well as the process of industrial standardization, branding, and international development.
Through broadcasts in over 180 countries worldwide, the documentary will use fragrance — a universal language of human perception — as a bridge for cross-cultural communication, presenting the contributions and influence of Chinese fragrance culture in the history of global spice trade and cultural exchange.
Producer Zhang Bei said the project is both a cultural and industrial journey, taking the team into mountains, forests, workshops and production sites to trace the roots of Eastern fragrance across China. By linking ancient traditions with today's industry, the documentary aims to preserve this heritage while opening new opportunities for its future development.
