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Space Ship

Q: Is Space Ship natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Not a natural extract. The 'space smell' has been recreated by fragrance chemist Steve Pearce for NASA. The accord uses metallic-mineral synthetics, ozone-type materials, and burnt-seared elements..

NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC, POPULAR AND WEIRD / fresh · woody · earthy

Space Ship

Category	NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC, POPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategory	fresh · woody · earthy
Origin
Volatility	Top Note
Botanical	N/A — fantasy metallic-ozone accord
Odor Strength	High
Producing Countries	N/A — olfactory concept
Pyramid	Top

Metallic, ozone-tinged, faintly burnt. The smell of the International Space Station — welded metal, ozone, and the peculiar odor astronauts report after spacewalks.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Metallic, ozone-tinged, with a faint burnt quality and electronic-equipment undertones. Less organic than any earthly smell — a combination of hot metal, UV-excited hydrocarbons, and recycled-air staleness. Inside the craft: polymer outgassing, electrical warmth. Outside (on returned suits): seared steak, gunpowder, ozone.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Sharp metallic-ozone burst, cold and alien

After a few hours

Warm metallic-burnt quality, electronic warmth

After a few days

Faint metallic residue, other-worldly

The Full Story

Spaceship as a fragrance note draws on astronaut reports of what space 'smells' like. Astronauts consistently describe a particular metallic-smoky-ozone smell when returning from spacewalks — detected on their suits and equipment after the airlock is repressurized.

This 'space smell' is likely caused by high-energy UV-excited polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on suit surfaces, combined with ozone (O3) and atomic oxygen interactions. Inside the spacecraft, the smell is a combination of recycled air, electronic equipment (outgassing from polymers and circuit boards), and metallic surfaces.

NASA actually commissioned a fragrance chemist, Steve Pearce, to recreate the smell of outer space for astronaut training purposes. The resulting accord was described as a combination of seared steak, burning metal, and gunpowder — an unexpected blend for the final frontier.

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Albâtre Sépia. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Alder · Alpha Humulene · Amaranth · Amberever · Ambramone · Amburana Bark · Antillone · Apple Tree

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Astronaut Don Pettit described the smell of space as 'a rather pleasant metallic sensation... like welding fumes.' The smell is thought to come from dying stars — polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced by stellar nucleosynthesis pervade interstellar space and may be responsible for the specific metallic-burnt aroma detected on spacesuits.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Not a natural extract. The 'space smell' has been recreated by fragrance chemist Steve Pearce for NASA. The accord uses metallic-mineral synthetics, ozone-type materials, and burnt-seared elements.

Molecular Formula	N/A — olfactory concept
CAS Number	N/A — fantasy olfactory accord
Botanical Name	N/A — fantasy metallic-ozone accord
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	High

In Perfumery

Spaceship is an extreme conceptual note used in sci-fi-themed and space-inspired compositions. Built from metallic notes, ozone, burnt/seared materials, and electronic-equipment accords (polymer outgassing). Functions as a narrative-atmospheric element rather than a traditional perfumery building block. Pairs with cold-mineral, ozone, and metallic accords.