A new trend on TikTok sees fragrance enthusiasts creating scent profiles for abstract concepts, from 'having a fight with your parents' to 'looking at old photos'. These mood boards, often set to a slowed-down version of Robert Miles's 'Children', are gaining popularity for their nostalgic and comforting appeal.
The carousels, made using the perfume database Fragrantica, assign specific notes to various experiences. For instance, 'the age of 18' smells like sweat, vodka, lip gloss, musk and lace, while 'loneliness' is captured by concrete, vetiver, linen, blood and cigarettes. Even fictional characters like Walter White from 'Breaking Bad' are given scent profiles, including sea daffodil, azalea, old books, sour milk and lily of the valley.
The trend taps into the science of scent and memory, as odours have the power to trigger nostalgic recollections. Users find these slideshows a welcome break from the usual TikTok content, offering a sense of comfort despite often melancholic themes.
Some see potential for these profiles to be used in real-life scenarios, such as wearing specific scents to influence memories in job interviews or encounters with ex-partners. The trend harks back to the handcrafted aesthetics of Tumblr mood boards, providing a creative outlet in an internet saturated with influencer culture and AI-generated content.
