Clean Fragrances in Japan & Foul Odors in the International Space Station, & More {The 5th Sense in the News}
A special issue on fragrances of the Asahi Shimbun looks at the fragrance industry from different perspectives, some better known than others, like its highly competitive brief system. In a fresher take on the fragrance landscape, we learn in detail about the new popularity of clean, household product scents in Japan, which is offered a sociological explanation by scholar Shigeru Kashima,
"Kashima, trying to come to grips with the idea, came up with the following notion: “Japanese men seek immaturity and childishness in women rather than sexiness associated with maturity. As such, people probably prefer the cleanliness emphasized by fabric softener over the sexiness linked to perfume,”...
These household products have come to be showcased more and more as sophisticated blends bearing evocative names usually reserved for the fine fragrance industry products, a trend which has appeared in other international markets in France, in the United States and in the Middle East like for this Persil detergent scented with oud.
In a frank disclosure on the quality of the ambient air in the International Spce Station, we learn that it smells really bad in there, as opposed to usual reports on the scent of grilled steak permeating outer space like here and here. A main note of "bottom burp" predominates; we're told that the scent when back on Earth is undescribable, and not in a good way,
The full issue is entitled The Charm of Scents
