Outer space is full of smells, but most often it is the smell of burning hydrocarbons. It resembles a mixture of hot metal, diesel smoke and barbecue. And its main source is dying stars. The products of this combustion are foul-smelling compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. “These molecules are distributed throughout the universe. They are found in comets, meteors and cosmic dust. These hydrocarbons were also part of the earliest life forms on Earth. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be found in coal, oil and even food,” says Luis Allamandola , founder and director of the Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center.
We cannot smell outer space the same way we smell planet earth, because it is impossible to enter outer space without special protective clothing and a space suit. However, when traveling in outer space, astronauts’ clothing becomes saturated with odors. They say it resembles the smell of a well-done steak with a touch of slight burn.
Luis Allamandola, founder and director of the Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Laboratory at NASA’s Ames Research Center, explains that the solar system is sufficiently corrosive because it is rich in carbon and has very little oxygen. It resembles a car emitting black smoke with an unpleasant smell. Even more disgusting can only be the smell of sulfur, which is also found in outer space. The aromas of stars that have enough oxygen are reminiscent of charcoal. Some even smell like sweet sugar.
NASA’s Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Lab at NASA asked perfumer Stephen Pierce of perfume and flavor company Omega Ingredients to recreate the smell of outer space for astronaut training. The astronauts smelled hot gunpowder. In fragrances created not for space training, but for everyday use, “space” is more pleasant and wearable.
Red Hoba by Xerjoff
The fragrance is dedicated to the largest meteorite ever found, the Goben. It still lies at the accident site in south-west Africa, in Namibia, near the Goba West farm, and is the largest piece of iron of natural origin on earth. Its weight reaches 66 tons, and its volume is 9 m³. The meteorite fell to earth in prehistoric times and was found by a farmer in Namibia in 1920.
The scent from the first breath burns with hot spices, of which cinnamon stands out in particular. The fiery alloy is softened by wood tones, resins and animal qualities.
Into the Void by Juliette Has A Gun
The fragrance is dedicated to the most mysterious object in space – the black hole. “In the void we are free from all physical forces and laws, there are no logical and mathematical explanations for what happens,” says Romano Ricci, perfumer and creator of the fragrance.
The black hole in Romano’s interpretation is warm, woody oriental with pronounced notes of papyrus, cedar, guaiac wood and patchouli. The composition also contains the norlimbanol molecule, which gives the composition an animalistic amber hue.
Darkness by Yohji Yamamoto
The fragrance sings of darkness, black color and chaos from which the universe and stars were born. Yohji’s “Darkness” is an earthy iris with charcoal, incense, patchouli and juniper. Mysterious, alien and meditative.
Caput Mundi by Tiziana Terenzi
The fragrance is dedicated to the new moon, the period when the moon just appears in the night sky. During the new moon in early childhood, the creators of the brand Paolo and his sister Tiziana traveled to Rome with their grandparents. Memories are embodied in a rich fragrance with green and woody floral accords. Fresh lily of the valley, cool iris and tea rose, exotic pollen from the Brazilian cabreuva tree, rich woody blend of Cuban cedar, sandalwood, cashmere and smoky Laotian oud, spicy warm saffron and tangy patchouli.
Moon Dust by MiN New York
As the name suggests, the fragrance is an attempt to replicate the smell of moon dust. According to research, the moon smells like sunburned dust, hot powder and the desert after rain. The fragrance reproduces these phenomena almost verbatim: stone chips, hot flint, smoky-spicy tobacco notes, warm black musk, spicy-woody benzoin and cold ozone.
Sirio by Talismans Collezione Preziosa
The fragrance is dedicated to the brightest and closest star to us – Sirius. Its brightness exceeds the brightness of the Sun by 25 times, and it can even be observed from all parts of the Earth.
Sirius, interpreted by perfumer Stefania Scuella, smells of apple cider, roses and peonies, tart rhubarb, delicate musk and an Amberwood molecule that resembles a mixture of woody species, amber, dust and sweet flowers.
Milan by Liu Jo
The design of the bottle is dedicated to the cosmic space with many stars and galaxies shining in golden scattering on a dark blue sky. The fragrance sparkles with juicy tangerines, entices with hazelnuts and flowers, then returns from heaven with earthy vetiver.
.