In 2008, NASA contracted chemist Steve Pearce to recreate the "smell of space." Astronauts had described it as a mixture of ozone, gunpowder, grilled meat, raspberry, and rum. Twelve years later, in 2020, the fragrance went on general sale and became a sensation.

What space smells like: astronauts' testimonies

Space is practically a perfect vacuum, with no air to carry scents as we understand them. However, astronauts returning from extravehicular activities and removing their helmets in the airlock chambers regularly report specific aromas.

Peggy Whitson, an astronaut and former ISS commander, described it in a 2002 CNN interview: "It smells like the smell of a gun right after it's been fired. I think there's something bitter in it, in addition to the smoky and burnt."

Don Pettit of NASA compared the sensation to "a pleasant, sweet smell of welding fumes."

Participants in the Apollo program maintained that the lunar module cabins smelled of burnt powder after their walks. Charles Duke (Apollo 16) directly noted that lunar dust smells like gunpowder. Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17) said, "We all instantly smelled the burnt gunpowder."

Other astronauts described the aroma as "hot metal," "burnt meat," "walnuts and brake pads," and even "burnt almond cookies."

Why space smells the way it does: two main theories

Scientists offer two explanations for this phenomenon.

Theory one: oxidation. In orbit, atomic oxygen (individual atoms) "sticks" to spacesuits and equipment. When an astronaut returns to the airlock and the cabin is sealed, the atomic oxygen reacts with molecular oxygen in the cabin air, forming ozone (O₃) and other oxidized compounds. This process is similar to combustion without flame and smoke—hence the burnt, metallic smell.

Theory two: dying stars. When stars die, they release an enormous amount of energy and form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds are byproducts of combustion found in coal, oil, and even burnt food. They fill space, and they may be the source of the characteristic "burnt" smell.

An amusing detail: in 2009, astronomers discovered that the Sagittarius B2 cloud at the center of the Milky Way contains ethyl formate—a molecule responsible for the taste of raspberry and the smell of rum. Perhaps that's why astronauts detect raspberry-and-rum notes in the cosmic aroma.

Steve Pearce and the birth of "Eau de Space"

In 2008, NASA contracted Steve Pearce, a chemist and founder of Omega Ingredients, to recreate the smell of space. The goal was practical: to make astronaut training more realistic, so they wouldn't encounter unexpected sensations in orbit.

Pearce relied on astronauts' accounts. It took him four years to create the exact formula—the fragrance was ready by 2012, but it remained classified.

Matt Richmond, product manager for Eau de Space, said: "The smell of space had been locked away behind 'Need to Know' clearance, limited to field training only for astronauts and bureaucracy. Thanks to sheer determination, persistence, luck, and a couple of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, we got our hands on it."

2020: The perfume goes public

In June 2020, a Kickstarter campaign launched to fund mass production of Eau de Space—the "world's first perfume independently verified by real astronauts."

The campaign's goal was symbolic: raise $1,969, in honor of the year of the first Moon landing. Reality surpassed expectations: the project was funded 124% in less than 24 hours, and by the end of the campaign, over $190,000 had been raised from "space geeks" worldwide.

The price per bottle was $15, with delivery planned for October 2020.

Working names the team considered before the final choice included: A Space Eau-de-ssey, Space Scent Juice, and Elon’s Musk.

What other celestial bodies smell like

While Eau de Space conquers Earth, scientists continue to "sniff" space using spectral analysis.

Comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The Rosetta mission discovered a real "perfume cocktail" in its composition: hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs), ammonia (stable), formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide (bitter almond), methanol, and sulfur dioxide.

Mars. Estimates suggest the Red Planet smells of sulfur with a slight chalky sweetness—due to high levels of sulfur, magnesium, iron, and chlorine in the soil.

Titan (Saturn's moon). Its atmosphere is rich in benzene, and its lakes consist of methane and ethane. Theoretically, Titan should smell like crude oil or gasoline.

Useful to know

Why did NASA need this? Beyond astronaut training, the scent helps make space flight simulations more complete. But the main goal of Eau de Space today is to promote STEM education: part of the proceeds from sales are planned for educational programs for schoolchildren.

Would you like to smell space? Humanity now has the chance—even if it's just in a $15 bottle.