Smelly Old History

{{Short description|Book series}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Orphan|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox book

| name = Smelly Old History

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| author = Dr Mary J. Dobson

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| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| series =

| subject = History

| genre = Children's history

| publisher = Oxford University Press

| release_date = 1997 - 1998

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Smelly Old History is a series of illustrated children's books published by Oxford University Press.{{Cite news|title=History Reeks - And These Books Rock|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-09-09-9709090112-story.html|orig-date=1997-09-09|date=2021-08-11|work=Chicago Tribune}}{{Cite news|date=1997-03-20|title=Students won't turn up their noses at 'Smelly Old History'|work=Asheville Citizen-Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=38390483&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjIwMTEzNjc3NywiaWF0IjoxNTkyODI2Mjg0LCJleHAiOjE1OTI5MTI2ODR9.KpFsy5dpU5Te4HWuMqlFmADJlL_RtH0TwULu_bCayjA |page=20|via=Newspapers.com}} The books contain scratch and sniff panels to provide the reader with scents representative of their respective eras, such as in Tudor Odours both lavender and herbs, employed as defence against the plague, and Henry VIII's gangrenous toe,{{cite news |author=Daniel Brooks |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2024/09/06/firebrand-henry-viii-history-truth-jude-law/ |title=Yes, Henry VIII really was that disgusting |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=2024-09-06 }} and in Mouldy Mummies an ancient Egyptian rat repellent made of cat grease and gazelle feces.{{cite journal |author=Mary Joan Winn Leith |url=https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/department/divine-scents/ |title=Divine Scents |journal=Bible Review |date=August 2003 |via=Biblical Archaeological Society }} A Washington Post article referred to Vile Vikings as "pretty silly--and smelly--but lots of fun".{{cite news |author=Elizabeth Kastor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/06/27/when-vikings-ruled-the-waves/f7f8499f-f81c-49a4-b771-76ea4e4e8c50/ |title=When Vikings Ruled the Waves |work=The Washington Post | date=2000-06-26 }}

The series was written by Dr Mary J. Dobson, and was followed by a similar series entitled Smelly Science.