COSMIC SCENT β / Incense Sticks

A cold, sharp, and elegant scent.

This incense was inspired by a true story we learned while developing scents for everyday items used on the International Space Station (ISS). "Cosmic Scent," a scent that imagines the smell of space.

Taste: Sourness

Blending and Creation Notes
Since 2020, Sanga Incense has been working on the development of scents for items used in space. These products were successfully delivered to the ISS aboard SpaceX rockets in October 2022 and August 2023. During the development process, we came across an intriguing anecdote: "After completing extravehicular activities (EVAs) in the vacuum of space and returning to the air-filled cabin, astronauts report sensing a unique scent." This story became the inspiration for Cosmic Scent.

When researching astronaut accounts of the "smell of space," we found the descriptions to be highly varied and difficult to pin down. It is no surprise, given how challenging it is to describe scents in words. Numerous compounds in space emit scent, such as ethyl formate, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and ethanol. However, most of these substances are toxic to humans.

Among them, ethyl formate stands out. This compound, emitted in large quantities from the Sagittarius B2 molecular cloud near the center of the Milky Way galaxy, is associated with the origins of life on Earth and is also used as a scent in modern times. Ethyl formate carries a fruity scent, reminiscent of raspberries, pineapples, and brandy. Combined with ethanol, also discovered in space, the inspiration of tangy, fruity spirits forms the scent profile of the Cosmic Scent.

The description "smells like burning metal" is the most common expression found in astronaut testimonies. When we asked a former astronaut about this, they speculated that it might be the scent produced by the heating of rockets or the ISS itself. This scent may be similar to the scorched smell sometimes noticeable near an airplane window.

Data and analyses also suggest that ozone, produced when oxygen atoms in space react with the air inside the spacecraft, could contribute to this experience. Ozone has a sharp, irritating odor and is toxic to humans. The description of "burning metal" may stem from the combination of ozone in the air and the oxidation of the ISS. In crafting this incense, we used acidic notes to mimic the sharpness associated with ozone.

To bring a touch of imagination to the reality of "heated ISS metal," we incorporated fragments of meteoric iron into the incense. This iron originates from the metallic cores of asteroids that fell to Earth and is known as "meteoric iron."

When you hold this incense up to sunlight, you can see the shimmering particles of meteoric iron embedded within. The remnants of the meteoric iron mix with the ash, allowing the incense burner to carry the story forward.

Whether the scent of fruity spirits and iron truly captures the scent of space remains a question we hope to answer by traveling to space someday. While aiming for the completion of an "alpha" version, Cosmic Scent is currently released in its "beta" form.

Since 2009, when we began filming road movies using homemade equipment to capture the journey from the Earth to space (up to the stratosphere at 40 km), we have been steadily drawing closer to space. The ultimate goal of this project has always been to reach space itself. Having reached the ISS with this project, we feel we are now one step closer.

For more details on the road movie project, please refer to the art incense “Total Solar Eclipse / Made with Space-Origin Ingredients.”

The Art Incense Series is a conceptual incense created with "the mind" as its theme. The rising smoke invites you into a vast and boundless world of excitement and inspiration. Let your senses guide you, and enjoy the experience.