Aromatic Cosplay

character building fumes

My interest in the concept of ‘aromatic cosplay’ comes from a sort of “Diet Romanticism” – the heady philosophy without all the smoldering doom & gloom (though aesthetically I dig). It was something I started to experience as young man in Brooklyn of the early aughts. Having just arrived from college in 2002, I was soon taken by the 19^th century fetishism blossoming in the BK. Before it was overexposed and commercialized, the “movement” had more altruistic purpose. It was about doing things the old way, the “right” way, the slow way. It was about creating the world you wanted around yourself. It wasn’t just fashion; it was a yearning for earlier simpler times (however misguided that sounds today) – and having fun with it.

In Brooklyn we dreamed of urban farming, preserving like a frontier person, delving into the bacchanal world of the 1800s. Small batch whisky flowed in rivers down Bedford Avenue where banjo bands sung harmonized hymns. The Eden of the old ways was upon us. It had flowered before in the 60-70s with Dylan, The Dead, and others, and believe me we mined those times as well. But ye ol’ movement could not hold. The modern world was ever present. Pretending you lived in 1833 wasn’t sustainable – it got played out for the parlor trick it was pretty quickly. I am glad to say we made it through and could finally except the world we were part of.

Yet this trend’s flirtation with Diet Romanticism was still philosophically viable. Romanticism was a revolution in 19^th century literature, poetry, art, and music. It involved many details that I need not go into - the main thrust I reference for the diet kind, is the idea of creating the world you want around yourself. We can see or feel beauty all around us - in music, meditation, friendship, nature, food, fragrance. We can choose to read great poetry even if we doomscroll an hour later. We can hear Mahler make thunder even if we want trap-out after. Peppering your everyday with beauty is not at all hard. It takes a bit more effort but makes living life a joy.

Music and fragrance are the two easiest ways to change the vibe of any situation. Even more basic, is thinking about what you want to wear. Becoming the character. You have to get dressed every day anyway, right? You can build the version of yourself you want to be in a given moment. What I wear on a given day is sometimes based on needs–weather, meetings, events, dinners, social engagements, sports, comfort. These are practical considerations. The fun stuff is more impractical. Do I want to dress like an Irish gangster? A yacht club douche? A corporate a-hole? A rocker? An upstate author? You can mix and match with what you got. Most importantly - ALL OF THEM HAVE A SCENT. Matching the perfume to the character is the easiest way to play dress up. You can be a ballerina, a zookeeper, a doctor, a dragon, an elf, a cat, or more. Perfume makes it come alive.

Aromatic Cosplay is about character building. Say you want to dress up like Thomas Shelby. You can get a three-piece suit, pocket watch, paddy cap, etc. But what would he smell like? He a badass, but badass fancy. TS is a dandy gangster that even joined the Parliament. I bet he was rocking 1920s English fumes that clean up nice – Floris, or Bond Street aftershaves - old-fashioned men’s chypres, colognes, or something of the like. He def didn’t smell like Baccarat Rouge.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Maybe you’re reading a Cormac McCarthy novel and can’t wait to get back to on your subway ride home? What can hold you over? Western fumes of sagebrush, dirt and herbs (fill in plug for Cowboy Grass). Maybe you aren’t dressing like a cowboy, but you throw on some Western tunes and spritz some trail dust fumes. Instant Colorado Silver Mine Swag.

As with anything that might seem trite - there is a spiritual foundation to what I write. It’s not about vanity. Or rampant consumerism. Dressing up is about making the world you want around yourself with variables that you can control with whatever it is you can procure. Spiritual study teaches us to be the best version of ourselves as we can be. You don’t need any nice clothes. You don’t need any fragrance. These things are just tools of creation available to the layperson. As a business owner, I never want to confuse the essential with the superfluous. I think that’s why the artistic integrity behind what I create is so important to me. I love to offer tools for other people to build the world they want around themselves. Cowboys, vampires, surfers, all are welcome. And now….

Here’s a random and incomplete list of characters and aromas that match for maximum ARO-COS. Feel free to add or subtract as you see fit!

• Aristocrat – chypre, riser, white florals – gardenia, jasmine

• Baker – spices, vanilla, cereals.

• Candyman – peppermint, sugar, clove, anise.

• Detective – fougere, citrus colognes.

• Embalmer – incense, myrrh, labdanum

• Farmer – hay, narcissus, meadow flowers

• Gangster – strong ambergris, dark amber-wood

• Historian – cedar, paper, leather

• Illusionist – Aldehydes, fruits, geranium

• Jeweler – Oakmoss, Cistus, Bergamot

• Knight – Fir Needle, civet, grass

• Laser Operator – Aldehydes, neroli, cedrat

• Monk – incense, rose, papyrus

• Ninja – smoke, clean pine, cetalox

• Organist – old wood, grease, incense

• Philosopher – musk, stone, myrrh

• Quality Assurance Engineer – I Dunno What

• Ranger – sage, dirt, spruce

• Soothsayer – bucchu, carrot, herbs

• Telemarketer – cheap apple, cedar, melon

• Umpire – Grass, leather, rosemary

• Vampire – Blood, Patchouli

• Wizard – Blueberry, Chamomile, Lavender

• Xylophonist – metal, cedar, woody-ambers

• Yodeler – Templin cone, Wild Strawberry, Milk

• Zookeeper – civet, musk, castoreum

Have Fun!