Seamus Hammond
Money is often associated with a distinctive smell, a combination of ink, cotton, and the bodily secretions it picks up as it passes from hand to hand. This unique scent has inspired perfumers to create fragrances with notes reminiscent of both new and old banknotes. One such example is the perfume created by Julien Rasquinet for the 'l'Argent dans l'art' show at La Monnaie de Paris, exploring the link between art and money. As money becomes increasingly digital and less physical, the smell of physical money may become a thing of the past, taking on a nostalgic quality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Cotton, ink, bodily secretions, oil, skin cells, food particles, pomade, lemon juice |
| Scents | Precious woods, fresh ocean, bright citrus, rosemary, grass, feet, armpit, sour gym locker |
| Money's Intangible Nature | Money is becoming less physical and more of an intangible concept |
| Money-Themed Perfumes | Money cologne, Money eau de parfum, l'Argent dans l'art |
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What You'll Learn
Money has two smells
The second smell of money is that of circulated notes. These bills have been handled by countless people and have been exposed to various substances, such as oil, skin cells, food particles, and even pomade from a barber's hands. This gives them a distinct aroma that can be likened to feet, armpits, or a sour gym locker. However, some people associate the smell of money with success and democracy, rather than focusing on its olfactory qualities.
As money becomes increasingly digital and less tangible, our perception of it may change. We may start to view it more as an energy capable of performing work rather than a physical commodity. This could lead to new fetishes associated with the sounds or visual cues of digital transactions.
The smell of money, whether it be the fresh scent of new notes or the muskier aroma of circulated bills, has captured the interest of many. From perfumers creating fragrances inspired by its olfactory notes to people wondering what capitalism smells like, money's scent is often associated with power and value.
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Notes smell like cotton, ink and bodily secretions
Money has a distinctive scent that can be attributed to various factors, including the notes that resemble cotton, ink, and bodily secretions. Let's explore these notes in more detail:
Cotton:
The scent of cotton evokes a fresh and clean aroma, often associated with laundry fresh out of the dryer or a crisp linen sheet. In perfumery, the note of cotton is achieved through the use of materials like ethyl maltol, which captures the essence of cotton candy or sugar caramel. This note is prevalent in popular fragrances like Angel, launched in 1992, which combines ethyl maltol with natural patchouli and ethyl vanillin to create a caramel and chocolate effect. Cotton, as a note, adds a subtle sweetness and a familiar, comforting sensation to the overall fragrance of money.
Ink:
The smell of ink is a complex and nuanced topic, as its aroma varies depending on the type of ink and various environmental factors. Ballpoint pen ink, for example, tends to have a slightly chemical or plasticky smell due to solvents like glycol ethers and alcohols. Printer ink, on the other hand, has its own unique olfactory signature, with inkjet inks leaning towards a sweeter, faintly chemical scent and toner inks possessing a more acrid, plastic-like fragrance. The scent of stamp pad ink is often more potent and intense due to its higher concentration of solvents and pigments. Temperature and humidity also play a role in intensifying or muting the scent of ink.
Bodily Secretions:
The presence of bodily secretions in the scent of money may seem unusual, but it contributes to the unique aroma. While the specific bodily secretions are not specified, perfumes that attempt to replicate this scent include Secretions Magnifiques. Reactions to this fragrance vary, with some finding it gross or unpleasant, resembling iodine and cheap decorative soap, while others find it intriguing without knowing the notes. The inclusion of bodily secretions adds an animalic or musky quality to the scent of money, enhancing its complexity.
The combination of these notes—cotton, ink, and bodily secretions—creates an intriguing and multifaceted aroma that is characteristic of money. The familiarity of cotton and ink notes, along with the intriguing addition of bodily secretions, results in a scent that is distinctive and memorable, contributing to our sensory experience of currency.
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Money is becoming less tangible
Money has always been a stand-in for goods and services, facilitating trade and exchange without resorting to a barter system. However, as money becomes less tangible, it takes on a new form, resembling energy more than a physical commodity. It becomes a purely digital representation of value, capable of performing work and transferring that value with the click of a button.
The value of money has never truly been tied to something tangible. It is not the physical paper or coins that hold worth, but the trust and belief that people have in the financial system. This trust is fragile and can be disrupted by reckless monetary policies, such as uncontrolled money printing, which leads to hyperinflation and the collapse of a currency's value.
As money ascends to a pure spirit, leaving the physical world behind, our relationship with it will evolve. The very concept of money may become more abstract, and we may find ourselves fetishizing new aspects of it, such as the satisfying "chirp" of a completed transaction. The smell of money, along with other sensory qualities, will become a distant memory in the digital age.
While a cashless society brings numerous benefits, such as convenience and efficiency, it also raises questions about our changing relationship with money. As it becomes less tangible, will our understanding of its value and nature keep pace with this evolution? Only time will tell how the intangibility of money will shape our economic systems and societal beliefs.
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Artists explore the scent of money
Money has long been associated with certain scents, from the fresh notes of newly printed banknotes to the musty, earthy aroma of older currency that has passed through countless hands. Artists have explored this unique "scent of money" in their creative endeavours, delving into the complex relationship between art and money.
One notable example is the exhibition "L'Argent dans l'Art" ("Money in Art") presented at the Hôtel de la Monnaie in Paris. This exhibition spanned over 20 centuries of art history, showcasing nearly 150 artworks that illustrated the evolving concept of money. To complement this exploration of the intersection between art and finance, perfumer Julien Rasquinet created an exclusive fragrance called "l'Argent dans l'air." Rasquinet, of IFF-International Flavors & Fragrances, crafted this scent to capture the various facets of banknotes, from the olfactory notes of freshly printed paper to the more nuanced aromas of fingerprints and ink that accumulate over time.
The olfactory pyramid of this "scent of money" fragrance begins with the crisp, minty notes of a banknote fresh from the Mint. As it evolves, the fragrance takes on more complex, woody, and iridescent notes that evoke the scent of well-worn, circulated currency. This fragrance was inspired by the exhibition curator Jean-Michel Bouhours' thoughts on the intangible value of art, reflecting on how art explores intangible concepts such as desire, pleasure, dreams, and impulses.
Artist Sophie Calle also delved into the scent of money in her work presented at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art. Calle's creation was inspired by the memory of a well-worn dollar bill, capturing the scent of linen-fibre paper, the animalic aroma of ink, and the dirt accumulated from constant handling.
As money continues its evolution towards a more digital, intangible form, the physical characteristics we associate with it, like its scent, may become distant memories. However, artists will undoubtedly continue to explore the complex relationship between money and society, capturing the nuances of our ever-changing relationship with this universal medium of exchange.
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Money-themed perfumes exist
Money-themed perfumes do exist, and they are designed to evoke the scent of money. One such perfume is "Money", which has been described as having olfactory notes reminiscent of freshly minted banknotes, with hints of precious woods, fresh ocean, bright citrus, rosemary, and grass. The idea of a money-themed perfume may seem unusual, but it is part of a larger trend of assigning olfactory significance to concepts like success and wealth.
The scent of money has long been a topic of fascination, with people associating it with success, democracy, and even the mysterious contents of sock drawers. As money becomes increasingly abstract and digital, the physical attributes that once defined it, such as the resonant ring of gold and silver, are being replaced by new symbols like the "transaction completed" beep.
The unique scent of money, particularly banknotes, is a combination of cotton, ink, and the bodily secretions it picks up as it passes from hand to hand. This includes skin cells, food particles, and oils. While some may find the scent of circulated bills unpleasant, others find it intriguing, and it has inspired perfumers like Julien Rasquinet to create fragrances that capture the essence of money.
One example of a money-themed perfume is "His Money", a men's cologne designed to surround the wearer with the "energy of money". The fragrance features notes of fresh linen, cotton, and silk, with hints of grapefruit, mandarin, freesia, and passion fruit. The bottle is even packaged with 100% real shredded U.S. money from the U.S. Treasury, emphasizing the connection between the scent and the concept of wealth.
Money-themed perfumes offer an interesting take on the traditional fragrance market, inviting wearers to surround themselves with the scent of success and perhaps even attract financial abundance. Whether it's the smell of freshly minted currency or the unique aroma of well-circulated bills, these perfumes provide a unique olfactory experience that goes beyond the typical notes of floral or woody fragrances.
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Frequently asked questions
Money doesn't smell like perfume, but it does have two distinct smells. The first is the scent of a banknote that has just left the Mint, with olfactory notes that are woody and reminiscent of the smell of old banknotes. The second smell of money is that of ignobility, like feet and armpits.
The olfactory notes of money that has just left the Mint are described as "iridescent" and woody, reminiscent of the smell of old banknotes.
The second smell of money is described as ignoble, like feet and armpits. This is because circulated bills carry away traces of oil, skin cells, food particles, and other bodily secretions.
As money continues to ascend to a pure spirit, leaving the physical world behind, smell will become less important. However, as long as money is tangible, it will carry the scents of the people and places it has been.
