Escentric Molecules owes its existence to an aromatic molecule that does not exist in nature. Iso E Super was created in a laboratory in 1973. It remained unknown outside the world of perfumery until the launch of Escentric Molecules, though its elusive presence lurks in relatively low concentrations in the background of many men's and women's fragrances. Among perfumers, it is appreciated for its velvety and enveloping effect.

When perfumer Geza Schoen first sniffed Iso E Super in isolation, something clicked. "I found that the common denominator of all the fragrances I liked was that they contained a large dose of this substance. Iso E Super is very unusual. It's never enough. One puff, you want the whole bottle. It's like a drug."

Schoen began to experiment, creating fragrances that contained Iso E Super in unprecedented proportions. One night it went further. Going out for a drink with a friend, he suggested that he spray himself with nothing more than the scent molecule itself.

The effect was immediate. As soon as he sat down in a bar, a woman came up to ask about his fragrance. As Schoen talked to her, it became clear that the connection between the fragrances she liked was also a heavy dose of Iso E Super. Schoen realized that he had hit something. His proposal was bold. I would create two fragrances in homage to this enigmatic attractant.

One of the fragrances would contain 65% of the molecule, something unprecedented. The rest of the formula would consist of ingredients designed to underline your low-key mood.

If this was a radical move, the second fragrance was totally non-conformist. It would only contain the Iso E Super molecule. "I thought this would appeal only to artists, to weirdos, to outsiders."

He was wrong. Since its launch in 2006, Escentric Molecules has been a phenomenon. Schoen followed the first fragrance pair, 01, with 02, 03, 04, and a fifth pair, Escentric Molecules 05. Each pair focuses on those rare scent molecules that have the brilliance and depth of character to stand on their own.