Ever had your nose quiver with a tinge of style envy each time your local mechanic pops up smelling like the inside of a toolbox? Me neither. Though it’d be foolish to deny that there are some people out there who strangely enjoy the idea of emanating the distinctive aroma of industrial lubricant. And for them, the new WD-40 cologne (officially titled “Eau de Industrie”) from Brooklyn-based art collective MSCHF should be more tempting than anything Creed or Amouage could produce.
Just to be clear, the WD-40 cologne is, in fact, a real thing and not just a concept dreamed up by an irreverent art collective. It is easily taking the piss though, with the WD-40 cologne now available for shipping to all those aforementioned toolbox fetishists keen on wearing the scent of manual labor.
Officially titled Smells Like WD-40, the cologne comes in a slim bottle mirroring the instantly recognisable aesthetic of a traditional bottle of the industrial lubricant with a red cap and blue-brushed metal finish. It doesn’t look premium because, honestly, it’s not. However, there’s something strangely satisfying about the fact that someone cared enough to craft such a unique cologne.
And while it may seem a bit out there, it’s actually not much of a stretch. Yes, a WD-40 cologne is a resoundingly silly idea, but there are legitimate fragrances out there that do make use some of that bittersweet oily nuance. Ormonde Jayne ‘Ormande Man’ is one such example, and while it doesn’t crudely smell like WD-40, it has at least shares some character with the lubricant.
MSCHF’s WD-40 Cologne is now available for shipping at an RRP of US$48 (~AU$67).
