While the term "unscented perfume" might seem to be somewhat of an oxymoron, this is exactly what consumers will get when they purchase '$cam' from LA-based vegan fragrance company Xyrena.
With $cam, the brand is out to prove a point, using only odorless coconut oil, alcohol and stabilizer to create awareness about the cruelty that is prevalent across a huge part of the cosmetics industry, mostly because of the reliance on animal testing. Xyrena founder Killian Wells is using the awareness-raising $cam to highlight the origins of common animal products like ambergris, or whale vomit, castoreum, a genital secretion from beavers, or civet—cat feces).
Wells also goes on to note how mainstream fragrance products are marketed with highly suggestive commercials, when she believes "selling animal-tested products with sex appeal makes about as much sense as selling chicken nuggets using a cute cartoon chicken."
Scentless Cruelty-Free Fragrances
'$cam' Brands Itself as "The World's First Unscented Perfume"
Trend Themes
1. Unscented Fragrances - Producing fragrances that are odorless, using only natural ingredients, can create a new category disrupting the traditional fragrance market and appeal to those who are sensitive to scents.
2. Cruelty-free Products - Creating a line of cosmetic products that are produced without animal testing or animal-derived ingredients can appeal to consumers concerned with animal welfare and sustainability and disrupt the conventional beauty industry.
3. Transparency and Education - Educating consumers about the origins of animal products commonly used in fragrances and cosmetics can increase transparency and ethical awareness and disrupt the practices of companies that rely on animal testing and animal-derived ingredients.
Industry Implications
1. Fragrance Industry - The fragrance industry can adapt to changing consumer preferences by producing unscented fragrances that are cruelty-free, using natural ingredients instead of animal-derived products.
2. Cosmetics Industry - The cosmetics industry can disrupt traditional practices by developing a line of products that use natural, plant-based ingredients, promote transparency, and avoid animal testing, while educating consumers about the origins of animal products.
3. Animal Welfare Industry - The animal welfare industry can promote alternatives to animal testing and encourage companies to use natural, cruelty-free ingredients, increasing ethical awareness and decreasing the reliance on animal-derived products.