The concept of photorealistic fragrances is simple: whatever is described on the bottle or in the fragrance’s notes smell like they do in real life. After all, the word photorealistic basically means depicting something that happens in the real. Though they sometimes might be classified as “basic” because they capture things that happen often (nature, locations, or colours), some might surprise you. They’re able to capture a moment.
Here, seven of the best photorealistic fragrances capturing everything from from a rich autumnal scene to the tensions of flowers and leather.
Pictured above: Maison Margiela Paris Replica’s When the Rain Stops starts off with the scent of light rain (bergamot and watery notes) before drying down to the metallic scent of humidity cloaking the air. The latter, is thanks to a mysterious “rain note” that adds a sharpness to moss and patchouli notes. After a certain time however, it also takes on the scent of rain drops scattered across a field.
The interesting thing about Chanel Sycomore is that there are no top, heart or base notes in its formulation. What you will get from this perfume that depicts the falling leaves, campfires and spiciness of autumn is thanks to a no-holds barred blend of ingredients ranging from vetiver to cypress and tobacco clashing with pink pepper.
With Hermessence Violette Volynka, you’ll get the photorealistic fragrance of violet and leather that clashes beautifully under the hands of Christine Nagel — feminine and powdery and masculine but mysterious. The dry down however, becomes a true skin scent which is yet another opposite to the strong projection of the fragrance.
Jo Malone’s Moonlit Camomile sets the scene (strangely, it smells like a beautiful, luxurious hotel lobby like the one in Paris’s Hotel Costes) with a top note of moonflower, heart note of camomile, and base note of white musk. The gentleness of it however, means that more than two-to-three spritzes are necessary if you enjoy a strong projection.
The easiest way to describe Kenzo Homme Eau de Parfum would be that its marine-like depending on the memories one has. The woody and salty notes could be a literal reference to the sea, red chilli or cardamom could reference sun-warmed skin, or benzoin and patchouli could be an olfactory memory one has of warm wood washed up on the shoore.
Le Labo’s Tabac 28 — part of the City Exclusives line that are a set of 15 photorealistic fragrances themselves — is the underdog of the line because of its strength. If you’re able to handle a beast however, the sweetness of dark rum and spiciness of tobacco is beautifully heady with a projection that lasts even after you’ve taken a shower.
The fragrance Houses describes 724 Eau de Parfum as a scent that depicts the energy of a cosmopolitan city but if you get the pleasure of smelling this in person, it might remind you of watching the sunset in bed (8,000 thread count sheets, obviously) from your New York City penthouse bedroom — the softness of aldehydes, creaminess of jasmine absolute, and a sensual sandalwood-white musk accord.
Part of four fragrances inspired by Salvatore Ferragamo’s silk creations, Oceani di Seta (silk oceans) quite literally smells like the ocean. A top note of salt, the airiness of Magnolia petals, and the balsamic scent of the heliotrope flower that actually, could be how Vernazza, Cinque Terre smells like.
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