To prepare its astronauts for space, NASA took steps to give them a sense of how space smells (Image: Getty)
There is still a considerable amount of that humans do not yet understand.
As space exploration becomes more mainstream, with new missions and almost constantly arising, there has never been a greater desire to see what is out there.
Now, earth-bound people can experience a part of space without committing to the years of training required to become an astronaut.
In 2008, wanted to prepare astronauts in every possible way – including giving them a sense of how space smells.
They therefore turned to chemist Steve Pierce, who had already worked in recreating the scent within the Mir Space Station, and asked him to replicate the obscure smell of space.
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Using first-hand experience, Pierre crafted a scent as part of NASA’s training programme. (Image: Getty)
Using information from astronauts with first-hand experience, Pierre crafted a scent as part of NASA’s training program. The goal was to help astronauts acclimate to the conditions and avoid any unexpected sensory shocks once outside Earth’s atmosphere.
Space, the astronauts revealed, smells like a mix of ozone, hot metal and fried steak.
While accounts differ slightly, most astronauts agreed 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 others noted that when the hatch to space opens, it smells like “burned cookies.”
Several decades later, a created “Eau de Space”. Once exclusive only to Kickstarter backers, this “alien” scent is now available to everyone to purchase.
One user said: “The fragrance is very interesting, an avant-garde fragrance for sure! It has a head of metal and tires/rubber, then a middle of sweet ammonia-like and ozone scents, and lastly, a base note of bitter almonds or burnt sweet almond,” according to the .
“I haven’t sprayed it on myself yet but I have used it in my home as an air freshener. It really adds a different effect than typical essential oils. An industrial clean scent. I like it! Can’t wait to smell Eau de Luna!”
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Scientists have created a perfume that smells like outer space—described as gunpowder, seared steak, raspberries, and rum
— UberFacts (@UberFacts)
While the smell might not be the most endearing scent to wear out and about, according to product manager Matt Richmond, this is not the aim of the product.
Instead, the fragrance is largely educational—“Eau de Space” is described as a way to spark interest in STEM subjects and offer students an immersive way to experience space.
Since its launch, the scent has become as viral sensation, raising $650,000 (£528,000), far exceeding the initial goal. It has been supported across the world, with over 13,000 backers.
Building on that idea, the same team also developed a perfume that captures the scent of the moon, also based on astronauts’ first-hand descriptions.
The creators also hope that eventually, the scent will inspire someone to go on to become “the first human to walk on Mars”.
“This is a brilliant initiative…Giving students a tangible way to experience space gives an ‘experiment’ aspect to lessons where they might struggle to be engaged,” said one reviewer on the Eau de Space website.
Another wrote: “I can not wait to experience the fragrances and imagine being in outer space, as that has been a dream of mine since being a little kid.”