Heidi Norton
Elon Musk, the world's richest person and founder of several companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, launched a $100 perfume called Burnt Hair in October. The unisex fragrance, described as the essence of repugnant desire, sold out within days. But what does it actually smell like? In a blind test, some detected floral notes, while others likened it to cigarettes, an old lady in church, or wildfire in Colorado. One person even said it embodied 20-something regret. Interestingly, the name musk comes from the Persian word mushk, which means testicle, derived from the belief that the musk deer's gland, the traditional source of musk, resembled a scrotum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Burnt Hair |
| Scent | Smoky, cigarettes, tobacco, floral, stale cigarettes, alcohol, old lady in church, body odour, wildfire, poker room, 20-something regret, horse hair, synthetic musk, raw, sexual, warm, polarizing, air-dried woman's hair, soft clean skin, freshly shampooed hair |
| Price | $100 |
| Sold by | The Boring Company |
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What You'll Learn
'Burnt Hair' perfume by Elon Musk
Elon Musk's Boring Company launched a $100 perfume called "Burnt Hair". The company claims it smells "like leaning over a candle at the dinner table", or "the essence of repugnant desire". Musk's infrastructure and tunnel-building venture suggests that Burnt Hair recreates the smell of a candle without the hard work of actually lighting one.
Several people who tried the perfume said it reminded them of cigarettes, with one person saying it was "really smoky". Another person said they sensed some floral notes, while others said it reminded them of an "old lady in church", a "wildfire in Colorado", and a "grandfather who just got home from the poker room".
One editor said the smell embodied "20-something regret" and "bad decisions". The perfume bottle has been described as "really cute".
Within days of launching, all 30,000 bottles of the perfume had been purchased. Now, it is being re-listed on eBay at prices ranging from a discounted $86.69 to a sky-high $99,420.
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Scent described as essence of repugnant desire
The scent of Elon Musk's "Burnt Hair" perfume has been described as "the essence of repugnant desire". The fragrance, sold by Musk's infrastructure and tunnel-building venture, The Boring Company, is meant to evoke the smell of a candle on the dinner table.
Several people who sampled the scent reported that it reminded them of cigarettes, with some noting a smoky aroma akin to tobacco or stale cigarettes. Others detected floral notes within the fragrance. One person likened the scent to an "old lady in church", while another described it as embodying "20-something regret" and "bad decisions".
The unique fragrance sparked curiosity and intrigue, with some questioning whether it was intended to smell good or bad. The description of the scent as the "essence of repugnant desire" adds to the air of mystery surrounding the perfume.
While the specific notes and ingredients of "Burnt Hair" remain undisclosed, the scent's polarising nature echoes that of musk itself. Natural musk, derived from glandular secretions of animals like the musk deer, has a strong and distinctive odour that has been described as primal, fecund, raw, and sexual. Musk has been used in perfumery for centuries, although today, synthetic musk is predominantly used due to economic and ethical considerations.
The intriguing and enigmatic nature of the "Burnt Hair" perfume, with its unique scent profile and evocative descriptions, captures the imagination and challenges conventional notions of desirable fragrances.
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Musk is a natural or synthetic fragrance
Synthetic musk, often referred to as white musk, is found in three different variations: aromatic nitro musks, polycyclic musk compounds, and macrocyclic musk compounds. Polycyclic and macrocyclic musks are the most common derivations that impart a powdery and soft scent. Synthetic musk belongs to the Amber fragrance family because of its warm and rich scent.
While the "Elon Musk" perfume by Joketown is called "Elon's Musk", it is unclear whether it contains any musk compound or if it is just a play on the name of the entrepreneur. On the other hand, Musk's "Burnt Hair" perfume by The Boring Company has been described as having a "cigarette-forward" scent profile, with some floral notes.
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Smokers sense cigarette notes in the perfume
Elon Musk's perfume, "Burnt Hair", has received mixed reviews. While some describe it as "repugnant", others have noted that it smells like "leaning over a candle at a dinner table", which "doesn't sound that bad".
In a blind scent test conducted by Business Insider, several non-smoking staffers said the scent reminded them of cigarettes, with one reporter describing it as "really smoky... like tobacco or cigarettes". Smokers in the office seconded this opinion.
The perfume also elicited a range of other responses, with some likening the scent to an "old lady in church", "wildfire in Colorado", and "bad decisions". One editor noted that it smelled like "my grandfather just got home from the poker room after a night out".
Despite the varying descriptions of the scent, the perfume proved popular, with all 30,000 bottles selling out within days of launching.
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Some describe the scent as old lady in church
The scent of Elon Musk's perfume, "Burnt Hair", has been described in a variety of ways. Some have likened it to cigarettes or stale cigarettes, while others have detected floral notes. One person said it reminded them of "an old lady in church". This unique fragrance has also been described as "the essence of repugnant desire" and as smelling like "a candle on a dinner table".
The description of "old lady in church" is intriguing and suggestive of a traditional, perhaps even nostalgic, aroma. It brings to mind the image of a mature woman, possibly with a sense of elegance and sophistication, attending a religious service. The scent, according to this description, may have a certain depth and complexity that evokes a sense of respect and solemnity often associated with church settings.
It is worth noting that the perception of scent is highly subjective, and different individuals may interpret the same fragrance in diverse ways due to personal associations and experiences. The description of "old lady in church" may not be universally shared, but it offers a glimpse into how the perfume's aroma has affected and been interpreted by at least one individual.
While the specific notes of the perfume are not publicly known, it is interesting to speculate about the ingredients that might contribute to this particular scent impression. Traditional perfumes often associated with older women may include notes such as powdery musk, soft florals, or aldehydics, which can give a sense of classic elegance. These types of fragrances have been long-standing staples in the perfume industry and are often associated with sophistication and refinement.
The description of "old lady in church" for Elon Musk's "Burnt Hair" perfume provides an intriguing glimpse into the subjective nature of scent interpretation. While the aroma may not be universally associated with this description, it showcases the power of fragrance to evoke strong images and emotions, in this case, bringing to mind a mature woman in a religious setting.
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Frequently asked questions
Elon Musk's perfume, called "Burnt Hair", has been described as smelling like cigarettes, with some floral notes. The Boring Company, which sells the perfume, describes the scent as "the essence of repugnant desire".
Musk is a natural fragrance obtained from the musk deer. It has a strong odor and has been used as a perfume fixative since ancient times. Nowadays, musk fragrance is almost exclusively synthetic. Musk has been described as smelling like "soft clean skin or freshly shampooed hair".
Some people who have smelled Elon Musk's perfume have said it reminds them of an "old lady in church", "wildfire in Colorado", and "20-something regret".
Musk has been described as "raw, sexual, warm, and polarizing". It has also been associated with religious significance, such as in Islam, where it is considered to be the most fragrant of scents.
