Do you ever wonder what space smells like? A new fragrance called Eau de Space has the answer. Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign recently released a perfume that brings the smell of outer space back down to earth.
According to Eau de Space manager Matt Richmond, the fragrance was developed by Steve Pearce. Pearce is a founder and a chemist of Omega Ingredients, a company focused on the “creation of the highest quality, provenance is driven, natural flavors and ingredients for the food and beverage industry,” its website says.
Was originally contracted by NASA to recreate the smell in 2008, after he worked on a scent exhibition for which he recreated the smell of the inside of the Mir Space Station.
Pearce used his knowledge of flavor and fragrance chemistry with the notes from astronauts who described space smelling like ozone, fried steak and hot metal.
Pearce took a few weeks to come with the “right aroma chemicals” to try out a few ideas before arriving at something he found satisfactory.
Created to help astronauts train before launching in orbit, the fragrance also was part of NASA’s goal of avoiding any potential of surprises astronauts might encounter or experience in the space.
Peggy Whitson, an astronaut and former resident of the International Space Station said, “It’s kind of like a smell from a gun, right after you fire the shot,”.
“I think it kind of has almost a bitter kind of smell in addition to being smoky and burned” she added.
“Astronauts describe the smell as a mix of gunpowder, seared steak, raspberries and rum,” said Richmond.
The main goal for the company with Eau de Space is to increase the interest in STEM learning for K-12 students what Richmond called “experiential education.” He hopes that Eau de Space will start the discussion with teachers, parents, and scientists taking it from there.
The smell of the Moon will be released based on the excitement from Eau de Space told Richmond.
Source: CNN