If perfume that smells like nothing sounds a bit odd you should know that many of the latest popular scents are exactly that.

Every new season brings a totally new trend in the beauty and fashion world. Colors change from dark to light and fragrances range from sweet and floral to musky and muted. Fragrance trends tend to follow those from the fashion world, with winter scents darker and more dramatic than their sweeter spring counterparts. Once the temperatures start to get colder, trending fragrances start to feature intoxicating scents like sandalwood and amber. But as soon as it starts to warm up, the scents start to get more romantic and cheerful, with florals and citrus becoming prominent aromas. Even though the trends might be the same, different notes and blends of various ingredients are what make each season’s fragrance trends unique.

The No-Smell Trend

While there are many different scents in the fragrance world, one that’s trending right now smells like nothing! Yes, you read that correctly, nothing. You must be wondering how a fragrance can smell like nothing when its sole purpose is to enhance one’s aromas.  But that’s the thing about this trend – it does enhance one’s unique aromas, but doesn’t overpower them.

The “no-smell” trend is quickly becoming popular thanks to the fact that people these days want something totally different than the norm. While trying to be as one-of-a-kind as possible, consumers are looking for anything that will make them stand out. Thanks to the power of influencers on social media, everyone is trying to create their own standout niche, turning away from any prepackaged goods that have taken over the industry. So these millennials and Gen Z-ers that are following are completely intrigued with things that are as unique as possible. That’s where this “no-smell” trend comes into place.

These new aromas aren’t completely void of scent. They contain so little that it’s often unnoticeable by the person wearing it, but appealing  to everyone else around them. These softer scents aren’t made to overwhelm, but to amplify one’s own natural pheromones, which are chemical substances that are produced and released into environment by animals, including humans. Our body naturally secret fluids via our glands and these fluids contain natural pheromones. Then our olfactory nerves stimulate our brain’s hypothalamus to trigger illicit emotions like arousal, attraction or sexual desire. Pheromones are unique to each individual, so a fragrance that further enhances these scents is the ultimate way to have a unique smell.

It’s Been Around For A While

Despite just now trending, the “no-smell” scent is actually nothing new. In reality, it goes back more than a decade when it was first conceived by German perfumer Geza Schoen in 2006. He first introduced the minimal fragrance named Escentric Molecule 01, which was aimed to be break from the industry’s use of excess when it came to creating fragrances. Made with synthetic materials like the barely noticeable aromachemical Iso E Super that has a slight woody scent to it, Molecule 01 became a fan favorite for those who preferred minimal scents. It’s actually still a favorite among many and a top-selling scent to this day!

Back With A Youthful Twist

With the popularity of Escentric Molecule 1, other fragrance makers decided to bring the trend back with a youthful twist! Pairing up with some of today’s hottest influencers, manufacturers are even opting to continue the whole minimal basis of their fragrances with their packaging. In a world of excess, the “no-smell” trend is trying to tone down that overpowering aroma that many possess after one too many sprays of their fragrance, but for a pretty penny. A small vial of these “no-smell” perfumes can cost hundreds of dollars, but people are buying them because it provides them with unique scents unlike any other.

Another appeal is the fact that these new scents are unisex, allowing both men and women the chance to enjoy them. This is appealing to a generation who considers themselves genderless and progressive. But their real attraction is that the scents are uncomplicated, sensual and clean. It’s a scent that smells like you, but only better. These self-expressing scents are modern, youthful and Instagram-worthy, which all enhance their appeal. Instead of people already knowing what fragrances you’re wearing because they’re familiar with them, people will instead ask you why you smell so good and clean.

The new “no-smell” scents rely on synthetic formulas that are created to simply blend in to one’s skin and then evaporate. Their only trace is a vague fresh scent that blends perfectly with your unique scent. Many have equated the new scents to a favorite T-shirt that fits you in all the right places!

The New Breed of “No-Smell” Scents

There are a few of the major players in this “no-smell” scent craze. Off-White x Byredo’s Elevator Music has a unique name for a unique product. Created by Ben Gorham and Virgil Abloh, Elevator Music is a see-through scent that features a combination of bamboo, musk and violet to create a subtle scent that practically disappears when it’s worn. Both Gorham and Abloh came up with the name because they feel as if their fragrance is like elevator music; playing in the background at soft levels, so the wear is noticed by others and not their fragrance.

The famous Instagram brand Glossier came out with their own subtle scent with You. For their first fragrance, they combined iris and an aromachemical called Ambrette to create a scent that almost makes you smell like warm milk. Proenza Schouler’s Arizona scent has a light cactus flower and white musk aroma that’s mixed in with cashmeran to create a scent so soft, no one will ever know you’re wearing perfume.

Comme des Garçons’ fragrance is just like their clothes – modern and minimal and sometimes a bit strange. This “no-smell” scent mixes tones of sandalwood, sitting close to the body and resulting in a sort of soft metallic aroma. Nomenclature’s Holy_Wood’s scent is subtle with its aromachemical called Clearwood that sort of resembles the scent of day spa. Goest Perfumes’ Dauphine was inspired by almond macarons that exhibits a sweet cleanliness that gently sits on the skin.

This is only the beginning of the trend and thank to its growing popularity, it’ll be here to stay. Look for more perfumers to jump on the “no-smell” craze soon!

Have a great week and stay cool!