The universe is a vast and awe-inspiring expanse, darkly mysterious, yet it draws us in like a cosmic pull we can’t resist. As space exploration today becomes more and more mainstream, with new missions and private initiatives arising, this desire to see what’s out there is more powerful than ever. But what if we could experience a part of space without traveling all the way there?
In 2020, a Kickstarter campaign came up with a solution: capturing the scent of space itself. The result was “Eau de Space”—a fragrance that sets out to answer the age-old question: “What does space smell like?” Once exclusive only to Kickstarter backers, this “alien” scent is now available for purchase to the wider public.
The conception of NASA’s Eau de Space
In 2008, NASA took steps to prepare its astronauts for space in every possible way—including giving them a sense of how space smells. To achieve this, they turned to chemist Steve Pierce, who had already worked in recreating the scent within the Mir Space Station, asking him to replicate the obscure smell of space.
Using notes from astronauts with first-hand space experience, Pierce crafted the scent as part of NASA’s training program to better prepare future astronauts. As CNN reported, the goal was to help astronauts acclimate to the conditions of space and avoid any unexpected sensory shocks once they left Earth’s atmosphere. In this way, NASA would ensure that they were well prepared for their experience in space.
What does space smell like?
As mentioned, the scent of space that Pierce recreated came directly from astronaut reports. Their descriptions were both unusual and oddly appropriate—space, they said, smells like a mix of ozone, hot metal, and fried steak. Even after re-entering their spacecraft, the scent seems to linger on astronauts.
While accounts differ slightly, most astronauts agree that the scent of space is an unusual blend of bitter, sweet, and burnt. Some compared it to “gunpowder, rum, fruit, seared steak, or a BBQ,” while the first space tourists noted that, when the hatch to space opened, it smelled like “burned cookies.”
As with many unusual inventions, reviews of Eau de Space lean toward the extreme. One Reddit user described it as “metallic, acrid, meaty,” which carries a negative connotation if we’re talking about perfume, while another noted it smelled like “burnt metal and brake pads, with a hint of ‘almondy’ aroma chemicals.
Despite the reactions, most agree it is a “cool” addition to any collection and makes for a great conversation starter. However, it is not your typical fragrance. You might need a bit of courage to wear it out as an everyday scent.
Its commercial purpose
So, if NASA’s Eau de Space isn’t a regular perfume for everyday wear, what is its real purpose? According to product manager Matt Richmond, the fragrance is largely educational. On its Kickstarter page, Eau de Space is described as a way to spark interest in STEM learning, as it offers students an immersive and vivid experience of space. Building on that idea, the same team also developed “Eau de Luna,” a perfume which captures the scent of the moon, once again based on astronauts’ firsthand descriptions.
The purpose behind Eau de Space, as mentioned on its Kickstarter page, is clear—it aims to inspire. It may fascinate a child, motivating them to later become an astronaut or scientist. Furthermore, the creators hope to inspire someone who might go on to become “the first human to walk on Mars.”
