The question on Etat Libre d'Orange's mind: if it's the end of the world, how would it smell? And what more can we do? We've rehearsed this before - we've watched the apocalyptic visions and the eschatological blockbusters: Armageddon, Contagion, Dr. Strangelove, H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. We can only put on the popcorn, stay inside, social distance, and watch it unfurl - whether it's on our screens or happening outside of our homes.
And so, for Etat Libre d'Orange, the end of the world smells like buttered popcorn, with a top note of exquisite orris absolute, carrot seed, and ambrette seed, a trio of earthy notes that reminds us of pencil shavings: dry and comforting. The scent is then scandalised: the comfort is disrupted and thrown off balance - where resinous styrax and gunpowder finds itself converging among culinary spices. It's the end of the world. Go out with a bang, for it may as well feel good.