A perfume that smells like Space?

4 minute read

eau+de+space.jpg — If you could catch space in a jar… How would it smell?

Does outer space have a smell? I know this is a question that keeps many of us up at night. Now, the cure to our insomnia has been revealed! In 2008, NASA contracted chemist Steve Pearce to recreate ‘the smell of outer space’ in order for astronauts in training to experience ‘fewer surprises’ before being launched in to space!

Introducing…

Teaming up with award-winning perfumers and astronauts who have worked on the International Space Station (ISS), the ‘Eau de Space’ Kickstarter campaign has smashed its’ goal of $1,969 , having raised over $650,000:

“The "Smell of Space" is the smell that astronauts describe when they go on a spacewalk, outside of the International Space Station, and then return to safety. Once they close the pressurized hatch and take off their EVA suits, they smell a distinct aroma. This smell has been described as the "smell of space."

-As described on Indiegogo

“It's a bitter kind of smell in addition to being smoky and burned, kind of like a smell from a gun, right after you fire the shot.”

-Peggy Whitson, former NASA Chief Astronaut

The product manager of the project, Matt Richmond, says that other astronauts have described the scent as:

“A mix of gunpowder, seared steak, raspberries, and rum.”

It doesn’t stop there!

This will definitely remind you of the 1969 style of perfumery.

Due to the roaring success of the Eau de Space Launch (badum tss*), the group behind the project are also launching Eau de Luna! This ‘smell of the moon’ is based on verified early accounts of Apollo astronauts:

“[The moon] smells like spent gunpowder.”

-Gene Cernan, Apollo 17 Astronaut, the 11th person to walk on the moon.

Conclusion

Both of these are estimated to ship in December 2020

The icing on this fragrant cake is that for each bottle purchased, Eau de Space will donate one bottle to a STEM program across schools, non-profits and summer camps in order to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and astronauts!

For more information, check out www.eaudespace.com

What are your thoughts? Are you going to buy these? I don’t think these will be ‘mass'-appealing’ at all, but this project is fascinating! We are likely to be ordering both of these.

The question is… Should we review them?

Until next time,

Omar