…it comes from `noses’ at the laboratory of International Flavour and Fragrance, and was commissioned by Rei Kawakubo of Commes des Garcons, who is launching it to an unsuspecting public on 11 May.

As a concept, it redefines the whole idea of modern perfume, and the smell is unique too, which is rare. The IFF describes it as `53 abstract notions evoking images, creating your own air around you,’ and `a memory of a smell’, and after spritzing it around it does seems more akin to a breath of fresh air than an actual smell. This is because it has been made by chemically recreating 53 inorganic smells, such as sand dunes, fire energy, washing drying in the wind, burnt rubber and the freshness of oxygen, using a method which takes nothing from nature, and thus is truly environmentally friendly. (via The Independent, 5/6/1998)

Comme des Garçons launched Odeur 53 in 1998. I will leave it to the folks at the Fragranced Products Information Network to rule on the “environmentally friendly” claim, but Odeur 53 continues with the irreverent approach to perfumery established by its predecessors in the line…

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