Molecule 01 - a scientific scent

I am a very fragrance driven person. Scent is extremely important to me and if I'm trying to decide between two very similar products the scent can sway me one way or the other. I'm also open to trying most scents even if they might sound a bit odd e.g. grass or tobacco, and I'm very rarely confused about a scent, but in this case I am. The fragrance that has managed this is the cult scent Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules (£65.50 for 100 ml).

There are currently three different scents in the Escentric Molecules range which has taken an innovative and scientific approach to scents aiming to create a very individual scent based on your natural pheromones. As you probably know pheromones are chemicals that humans and animals generate that can change or trigger different behavior in others e.g. reinforce attraction, and since pheromones are individual this means that the Molecule scents will smell different - and also at least in theory incredible on everyone.

 

But building on natural pheromones is only one part of the Molecule 01 concept. The other part is about the use of one single aroma compound called Iso E Super, which is traditionally used as a base note to perfumes, i.e. it will ground and enhance a fragrance rather than make a bold statement by itself.

So with the science bit out of the way - what does this actually smell like? Well - it's really difficult to say (I bet you never expected me to say THAT about a fragrance) since Iso E Super doesn't really have a distinct scent, but there is a vague note of smooth, dry, balmy, slightly sweet and peppery wood. It is a VERY VERY subtle scent, and after that initial spray I can't smell it at all - I could bathe in this scent and I still wouldn't be able to detect it. Being so focused on scent I enjoy being able to pick up even the most subtle aroma of what I'm wearing or to pick up a jumper the day after and smell the perfume, but that doesn't happen at all in this case.

They say that Molecule 01 is all about the effect it has on others, and that it acts like a "natural sexy aura", and I have heard from others who've tried this fragrance that they get lots of compliments for it. I haven't had a single reaction from anyone when I've worn this scent - and it's not the compliments (or lack of) that I care about, but when Him Indoors can't smell it, and I can't smell it - then I have to ask: What's the point?

I have some fairly sophisticated and unusual scents in my fragrance collection but with this one, and I apologise to all Molecule 01 lovers out there - I don't get it. A scent that is a non scent, without any clear identity, hmmmm - maybe it's all just too scientific for me...