French company Kalain has a unique business that's based around preserving scents of loved ones who have passed. Since there are certain smells that people grow to associate with meaningful family members and friends, rather than having them gone forever once someone has passed, Kalain aims to make them easier to revisit for comfort.
In order to reproduce the scents left behind by another human Katia Apalategui of Kalain consulted with experts at Havre university. The process involves extracting odor from a person's clothing and reconstructing the molecules over the span of about four days.
Since smell and memory are so closely linked, Kalain has plans to sell these custom commemorative vials through funeral homes. Although Apalategui's mourning mother inspired the creation of these perfumes, not all of the potential applications are as morbid. Apalategui also imagines that these bottled scents could be used as gifts for couples on Valentine's day, as well as soothing aids for kids who are temporarily separated from their parents.
Commemorative Fragrances
The Custom Perfumes by Kalain Preserve the Scents of a Loved One
Trend Themes
1. Custom Fragrance Preservation - The trend of preserving scents of loved ones is creating opportunities for custom fragrance businesses to offer personalized and meaningful products.
2. Emotional Memory Products - The market for emotional memory products, such as commemorative perfumes, is growing as people seek unique ways to preserve and revisit cherished memories.
3. Scent-driven Gifting - The rise of scented gifts, like custom fragrances, provides a new category of thoughtful and sentimental presents for various occasions.
Industry Implications
1. Funeral Homes - Funeral homes can tap into the trend by offering custom commemorative vials of scents as part of their bereavement services, providing comfort and a lasting memory for grieving families.
2. Personal Fragrance - The personal fragrance industry can explore the innovative approach of preserving and recreating meaningful scents, offering customized products to evoke strong emotions and memories.
3. Gift and Special Occasion - The gift and special occasion industry, including Valentine's Day and other celebrations, can incorporate the idea of custom fragrances as unique and sentimental gifts for loved ones.