The future of human identity in the face of biotechnology isn’t necessarily the kind of subject that most fragrances consider, but Etat Libre d’Orange has never been too concerned with following convention. And we’re all luckier for that, because The Ghost In The Shell- a fragrance made in collaboration with legendary Japanese manga creator Masamune Shirow- dives headlong into the convergence between the natural and the artificial, using a unique blend of cutting edge synthetics and natural fragrant materials to achieve the flesh-and-machine synthesis that French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (whose work inspired Shirow) envisioned as the next leap forward for humankind. But enough about French transhumanist philosophy and genre-defining cyberpunk manga (!), how does it actually smell? Surprisingly bright and clean, as it turns out, as the fragrance is based on a gentle and breezy jasmine absolute with a pop of fresh, tart yuzu and smooth moss- the “human” heart of the scent- blended with a complex set of cutting edge synthetics that provide subtle but long-lasting milky, musky, gently powdery depth. In much the same way that bio-modification may someday soon be all around us without being visible to the naked eye, this is a skin scent that turns out to be much more than it initially appears- extremely subtle, but deeply enveloping, soft and soothing but with a dynamic, futuristic musky edge. If you’re looking for an everyday-perfect skin musk with a uniquely compelling freshness (and a very cool tie-in to one of the most revered properties in anime/manga), consider The Ghost In The Shell to be your own personal biohack.
