What would a painting by a celebrated artist smell, sound or taste like? For too long, museums were strictly ‘look and don’t touch’, but curators are now putting visitors’ senses and emotions at the heart of their exhibitions – all while providing a slick backdrop for an Instagram update.

Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch – in our futuristic age, why stop at five senses? Feeling data, hearing sights, and instinctively knowing where you’re positioned on the planet are just three ‘extra senses' that new advancements in technology are making a reality.

When it comes to food, it’s all about flavour – right? Canvas8 spoke to Charles Spence, the psychologist behind ‘gastrophysics’, to discover how all senses impact on how we taste and to find out how brands are using packaging, colour and sound to radically alter our flavour experiences.

While many brands are using emotional messaging to connect with consumers on a more human level, French train operator Thalys is banking on the power of one of our most powerful senses – smell. Its campaign is inviting travellers on a journey through the scents of four European cities.