What if California had an official aroma?
A public initiative exploring a new California state symbol inspired by its land, culture, and history.
Join the initiativeExplore candidate aromas, learn what they represent, and share your voice in shaping a new California state symbol.
Explore Aromas
California is defined by a wide range of natural environments, from coastal regions and redwood forests to agricultural valleys and desert landscapes. Each of these settings produces distinct natural scents that reflect the character of the land and serve as inspiration for the proposed aromas. What scent do you think best represents California?
Understand the Meaning
Each proposed aroma represents a different part of California’s identity, shaped by its natural environments, agricultural regions, and cultural communities. Each scent—whether floral, herbal, earthy, or resinous—offers a window into California’s unique history, ecology, and culture, capturing a sense of place that is both vivid and memorable.
Share Your Voice
This initiative is shaped by public participation. Visitors are invited to vote on which proposed aroma best represents California’s identity. While the project is exploratory and artistic in nature, it engages with the idea of a potential future California state symbol through open public input and discussion.
What does California smell like?
For generations, California has celebrated its unique character through official state symbols that reflect its natural beauty, history, and culture. A California State Aroma would add a new dimension to that tradition by recognizing a scent that captures the essence of the Golden State. Whether associated with iconic landscapes, native plants, agricultural heritage, or cultural traditions, an official aroma could help raise awareness of California's diverse ecosystems, encourage conservation and environmental stewardship, and foster greater appreciation for the state's rich history—including the deep connections Indigenous communities have maintained with California's natural landscapes for thousands of years. It could also shine a spotlight on California's agriculture, tourism, and natural-resource industries, creating new opportunities for education, community engagement, and economic activity. More than a symbol, a California State Aroma would invite residents and visitors alike to participate in a statewide conversation about what truly represents California—through one of our most powerful and memorable senses.
Let’s begin the conversation.
Have feedback? We welcome your ideas, questions, and suggestions to help shape this budding initiative.