Relay Column: The Hidden Scent of Bare Skin – A Study on Skin Fragrances (Yurei)

Setting aside personal preferences, clean and naturally radiant skin, which is universally praised for its delightful scent, along with the perfumes that achieve this, have always been the objects of desire throughout the ages.

For instance, the legendary fragrance from CHANEL, "N°5," incorporated nostalgic notes designed to evoke the scent of pure and clean skin［1］. Even today, about a century later, there are numerous perfumes that utilize a visual image of clean skin. In Japan, the fragrance category known as "skin fragrance (スキンフレグランス)" has gained popularity and seems to have settled as a staple.

While there is still room for discussion regarding a clear definition of skin fragrance, in Japan, promotional phrases such as "blends seamlessly with the skin," "the scent changes with the wearer's skin," and "becomes a unique fragrance for oneself" are commonly used during sales and customer service［2］. This serves as a contemporary promotion that highlights individuality and diversity. The concept is indeed easy to grasp. However, can we truly perceive these aspects from the actual scent? I want to focus on the "fragrance" itself and contemplate this.