New Delhi, Sept. 27 -- For over two millennia, Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh has distilled flowers, roots, and even earth into perfumes that journeyed across empires - from the Guptas to the Mughals. Today, an eighth-generation perfumer and chef is reimagining Kannauj's legacy - not for a vial, but for the dining table.

In early September, perfumer and chef Pranav Kapoor brought centuries of perfumery expertise to a pop-up in Delhi, hosting 30 guests to 'eat' a perfume. Rose, vetiver, sandalwood, petrichor, and jasmine - each note was translated into cocktails and dishes that blurred the line between smell and taste. The immersive experience was the result of years of meticulous experimentation, starting with fragrance-led cocktail pop-ups at...