The smell of space
Yes, you read correctly. Space has a smell. Actually many! While we can’t really smell outer space because we’d die in the process, we do have enough information of what it probably smells like.
According to researchers some compounds and elements of “space stuff” are also found here on Earth. For example, Sagittarius B2, the dust cloud near the core of the Milky Way contains large amounts of ethyl formate, which is a compound that gives raspberries their flavor. When this compound is created out a reaction between acid and a type of alcohol, it smells similar to rum.
On the other side, astronauts describe the smell of spacesuits, airlocks, and other things that have come back from space as metallic; a rather pleasant sweet metallic sensation, hot metal, or even seared steak. The astronaut Donald Roy Pettit explains : “The best description I can come up with is metallic; a rather pleasant sweet metallic sensation. It reminded me of my college summers where I labored for many hours with an arc welding torch repairing heavy equipment for a small logging outfit. It reminded me of pleasant sweet smelling welding fumes. That is the smell of space.”
Men who have stepped foot on the Moon described its surface as soft and crisp as freshly fallen snow, and although they could not smell the moon, they described the smell of moon dust left on their suits similar to gunpowder.
Depending on the location in space and the astronaut/scientist perception there are different ideas of what space smells like, but what they all seem to agree is that space has a very distinctive and unique aroma. "It's like something I haven't ever smelled before, but I'll never forget it," said NASA astronaut Kevin Ford in 2009.
Inspired by real experiences in outer space, we created our Space Odyssey blend: ACRID. This fragrance is a cosmic cocktail of smoke, metal, raspberries, and rum. Fly to the moon and back with this smouldering interstellar blend: strong and smoky, slightly sweet, and definitely not Earthy. Feel the warmth of a supernova burn from this candle and let its scent bring the cosmos into your home.