Signals & Stats : Daily Signals

Synaesthetic selling: Fragrance brand makes scents of sound

By Naomi Leach 08 : 01 : 2015 Unsound : Ephemera : Soundscapes

Krakow, Poland – In an exploration of the compelling relationship between smell and sound, Unsound has unveiled Ephemera, a range of perfumes inspired by conceptual soundscapes.

Emphemra by Unsound, Installation, Krakow

Emphemera by Unsound, Video Still by Marcel Weber, Krakow

Emphera by Unsound, Krakow

Emphera by Unsound, Imagery by Manuel Sepulveda, Krakow

In a project curated by Malgorzata Plysa and Mat Schulz of festival platform Unsound, perfume designer Geza Schoen collaborated with three musicians – Ben Frost, Tim Hecker, and Steve Goodman (aka Kode9) – to translate raw sonic material depicting Noise, Drone and Bass into scents.

Outlining how an olfactory narrative and the resulting three fragrances were achieved, Schoen tells LS:N Global: ‘Any interpretation of cultural expression is possible. These things translate. Anything might be an inspiration. My interpretation of my language of my perfumery was translated.’

Schoen, the nose behind the Escentric Molecules series, conceived the three perfumes initially for an installation launched at Unsound Festival New York in April 2014 and Unsound Krakow in October 2014 before finally presenting Ephemera at Tromsø Center For Contemporary Art in Norway in October. The full range of Noise, Drone and Bass perfumes is available from Unsound.

To discover other developments in tailored scent experiences, read our Innovate on Commodity.