Molecule 01

[Basteri]

Certainly Molecule 01 is a very interesting fragrance regardless it only contains or for the most part ISO E Super. I am regaining interests because I tried it again not long ago and my wife thought it was an amazing fragrance. She is not very open about my fragrances only when she does not like it but with Molecule 01 she is rather enthusiastic. The strangest thing is that, in the past, fragrances loaded with ISO E Super used to give me a headache for instance Terre and Encre Noire however Molecule 01 does not... unless I am going mad.

The sillage is of epic proportions as I was wearing an scarf that, after two weeks, still has a silky sublet cedar smell. I guess my initial reluctance to spend money in a one ingredient fragrance is not really justified anymore and I will be pulling the trigger.

[L'Homme Blanc Individuel]

The strangest thing is that, in the past, fragrances loaded with ISO E Super used to give me a headache for instance Terre and Encre Noire however Molecule 01 does not... unless I am going mad.

It's either the combination of Iso E Super with something else that makes Terre D'Hermes and Encre Noir intolerable for you (and me, frankly), or, it's that something else entirely. I've been curious about that too, and I haven't been able to figure it out. There's something in Terre D'Hermes, Encre Noir, Azzaro Visit, Michael For Men and others that I can't stand. I have no idea what it is. I thought at first Iso E Super was what they all had in common, but I like Molecule 01, so clearly there must be something else.

Maybe it's the combination of Iso E Super WITH something else? Or maybe it's that something else entirely? I sure don't know... but I am curious.

[Basteri]

I am glad to learn that someone else is experiencing the same. I have never smelled ISO E Super in its purest form but Molecule 01 so it must be the cocktail what bothers me and not necessarily ISO E

[hawk]

I can't smell Molecule 01 within seconds of spraying it! am I the only one?

[Basteri]

it seems Molecule 01 is well known for not being smelled by the wearer but by the others.

[hednic]

I can't smell Molecule 01 within seconds of spraying it! am I the only one?

Nope. Not at all.

[sjg3839]

Nice frag. Enjoy bro!

[Scentologist]

I agree with everything you said. Its amazing. Its so smooth and natural feeling. The best cedar smell hands down with something else magical happening. The stuff lasts and lasts. I can put on my jacket and smell it from days prior. It puts a smile on my face to catch whiffs like that from things I've worn. I'll never be without a bottle. I'm tempted to even spray it around the apartment. I've even had compliments on it.

[starshipvelcro]

I really don't want to try Molecule 01...I feel it might ruin certain other fragrances for me.

[Kagey]

I can't smell Molecule 01 within seconds of spraying it! am I the only one?

Nope, I have the same problem. All I can smell is a bit of alcohol when I first spray it, then nothing at all. It's quite frustrating because I wish I could smell it.

[rum]

Stealth scent for me. Doused myself in it, couldn't smell a thing. Tried again, same result. Gave up.

[Ciprian]

I like it. I've used it from a sample vial and I could smell it on me for maybe 2 hours. (after that ,I didn't ask if anyone smell anything on me) ,but during that time I got a nice compliment. It reminds me of Eau Divine by Divine ( also from a sample vial I had 2 years ago , which I really liked it)

[JiveHippo]

I don't get it. In theory, couldn't one make themselves a large bottle of this for around $10?

[Kaern]

I don't get it. In theory, couldn't one make themselves a large bottle of this for around $10?

Probably less and its a kinda lazy fragrance isn't it? None of the range do it for me.

[hawk]

This is a scent that you wear for others and not for yourself to enjoy since you won't be able to smell it.

[stevolution]

I wore this yesterday and the day before. I still smell it on my coat. I love it! I got my bottle last year for half the price.

[Prince Barry]

Luca once sent me some pure Iso-E. It's much deeper smelling when it's not diluted down, I feel that the dilution in alcohol helps it to 'blossom'.

[Basteri]

I assume there is something else but ISO E Super and alcohol. Isn't it?

[gandhajala]

I assume there is something else but ISO E Super and alcohol. Isn't it?

That's what Geza Schoen said a few months ago here in London.

[drseid]

I can't smell Molecule 01 within seconds of spraying it! am I the only one?

Not at all. Many folks have the same issue. I confess I must be relatively anosmic to it as well, as it is just faintly detectable to me throughout.

[walkdogg]

I can't smell Molecule 01 within seconds of spraying it! am I the only one?

This is not uncommon reaction to Molecule 01 or iso E super. The fact is, that our noses are very delicate and strange devices, designed to perceive and do marvelous things. One thing our noses do is "turn off" our ability to perceive a scent after prolonged exposure to it. This is evidenced by spending time around a pig farm or chicken coup or any other "stinky" place. You can smell the wretched stank for a while but soon, its not bothering you anymore. Your sense of smell has become anosmic.

The scent molecule "Iso e super" is a larger molecule comparatively. For this reason it is primarily used as a base in fragrances. We all know that bases are bases because they outlast the other notes. IT's why citrus is often complained about for being short lived. Well, Iso E super is a larger molecule and it has a tendency to "bombard and overwhelm" the scent receptors in our brain. Often without us even knowing it! People who wear Molecule 01 will tell you that the scent is meant to be smelled on you by others, not smelled by you. They will also confirm that they will not smell it most of the day, however, from time to time, they will catch whiffs of the sweet woody, soapy, airy scent.

Most people want to smell the scent on themselves and this fragrance is NOT for that kind of wearer. It's especially good for situations like school, work, the bus, a meeting, where you are likely to be in close quarters with others. No one wants to be stuck around someone whose bathed in Grey Flannel this morning, and what you perceive as a good scent, others may not. Molecule 01 works excellently for this situation because the people are likely to smell it on you when you enter the room or pass by them...maybe even for a few moments when you first are near them, but just like it did for you, the scent will seemingly fade away to invisibility to them too. Making the perfect "close quarters scent".

For my friends who have never yet smelled Molecule 01... either because they have not had occasion to, or because they tried it and smelled nothing immediately after putting it on, allow me to make a recommendation to help.
--Take your bottle, or sample or atomizer of Molecule 01 and spray a couple sprays onto a hand towel clean t-shirt or pillow. Remember where you sprayed it and set it aside to dry for a few hours, or overnight. The next day, bury your nose into the spot where you had liberally sprayed the juice. NOW, do you smell that!??
Given the time to unwind and break down a little, the scent should be more easily detectable to your nose. To me it smells like someone took the washing machine filled it with clean white cotton t-shirts, water, old school detergent suds, some wood chips and the lightest bit of musk. It's really not loud at all. It is also really "safe", the scent is not overbearing in any department. It's just pleasant and simple the way the earth smells after a rainstorm. The smell is present, and detectable, but not way turned up.

I have a small surplus of Molecule 01, because I buy it whenever occasion permits. If anyone wants to try it, PM me and if you pay for the postage, I will send you a vial or two for free to try.

I really don't want to try Molecule 01...I feel it might ruin certain other fragrances for me.

Others will have to comment on this, because I personally cannot pick out the "Iso E Super" in other scents. But, even the ones that are reported to have loads of ISO in them such as Encre Noire - Kenzo Air -- Fahrenheit -- Terre d'Hermes -- Poivre Samarkande -- Cartier Declaration I do not find a common thread in them personally. But, I have also heard that Iso can be adaptable and change based on the other ingredients it's playing with.

[Possum-Pie]

I bought a sample along with many others from Walkdogg a week ago. I catch a fleeting whiff then it's gone. What I like about it, is that it amplifies other fragrances. If I apply it, let it dry, then put on something like Penhaligon's that smells nice but sits close to the skin, it helps it project better. Alone it smells like alcohol and faint cedar. My thing is that it just goes to show that the fragrance world can put a $2 ingredient in a $1 bottle and sell it for $135. Capitalism at it's best!

[gandhajala]

...My thing is that it just goes to show that the fragrance world can put a $2 ingredient in a $1 bottle and sell it for $135. Capitalism at it's best!

It just takes someone with the brilliance / cynicism to do it !

[Possum-Pie]

It just takes someone with the brilliance / cynicism to do it !

Even factoring in the overhead, production, and research/development costs, much of perfumery boils down to hype. If you can hype your fragrance, you can sell your item that costs $4 to make for whatever the market will bear. There is a chap in the UK who is selling on EBAY 20% Super Iso E in alcohol in an attractive metal container for less than $9 even with shipping. Creed and Bond no. 9 are examples of two companies who do a great job of convincing us to shell out $200 for $4 worth of ingredients and a bottle (which almost always costs more than the juice to manufacture) I'm not saying it is wrong per se, but You must admit, there was little/no research and development behind dropping 10ml Super Iso E into 90mls of alcohol and charging $130!!!

[Greek Trojan]

2 questions:

1. @walkdog (or anyone else). Have you actually tried/compared molecule 01 to homemade ISO E Super diluted? I've heard mixed results but it sound like it should work the same.

2. More of a general question based one the first but is the molecule 01 bottle refillable or is it sealed? I actually like the bottle and wouldn't be adverse to rewarding them for coming up with the fragrance but in the long term I don't think bottle art would justify the huge markup (especially over time). Then again I completely understand if you cannot as an anti-fraud/reselling measure.

[jbthorpe]

Sounds like I need to give it a go since my wife is the same way. SHe will certainly let me know when she does like what I'm wearing (which is most of the time), but it's hard to find something that we both agree on.

[pkiler]

in the past, fragrances loaded with ISO E Super used to give me a headache for instance Terre and Encre Noire however Molecule 01 does not... unless I am going mad.

I get a headache from Terre too, but not Encre Noire, which I think has even more Iso e Super in it than does Terre.

But as a Perfumer, I can tell you that it is not the Iso E Super giving me the headaches... will be something else.
(Since I have the uncut stuff here to smell.) I've been testing out the newer improved molecule version of the Iso E Super...

And I have wiped a tiny bit on my shirt when handling the liquid. It has a nice fragrance when I smell it, but it's also not right on my face... It's such a large molecule, that for people who can't seem to smell Molecule 1, it might help to wear it farther from your face.

(Not having had Molecule 1 analyzed) I also wonder if there isn't a tiny bit of some other things in it to liven it up a tiny bit...

[docluv45]

I'm unconvinced.

I believe some of us are truly anosmic to this molecule. Since when would a large molecule be only detectable when first wafted to the nose (only) OR after a period of time has elapsed? I am unaware of this phenomenon with any other large molecules, many of which are perfectly detectable whenever one takes a whiff of one. The size of a molecule plays some role in its diffusion, but does not make it magical. Why would this one molecule behave differently from every other scent molecule with which I have come in contact? It makes much more sense to me that some of us lack the specific receptors to pick up anything but the faintest trace of something, maybe. There are plenty of examples in the literature of chemicals which some people can detect and others cannot.

[ToughCool]

I'll have to try this since I love the Iso in Terre and I love cedar. Though I'd have to pass if it was just for others and I didn't detect it.

[Scentologist]

I don't believe that certain individuals lack a specific receptor no more than a person lacks a gene for green hair. In the case of hair, the gene is simply not turned on. In the case of the receptor, I feel it is there but perhaps another phenomenon is at play. Ever wonder why a smoker can't recognize their own bad breath or how that smell stinks until they quit? Perhaps the receptors are being bombarded by more robust, daily chemicals that diminish the sensitivity of the receptor to chemicals of certain size. There is also the issue of nasogastric construction and sinus/allergy scenarios. It could be that active cytokine mediation has chronically inflamed portions in key regions of the olfactory canal. Olfaception can be altered depending on physiology and environment, among other possible sources.