“D: Well, one thing that comes to mind is that it is intimate; and in the sense that public intimacy is either forbidden or co-opted, perfumes and fragrances co-opt that intimacy for the sake of advertising. Now, instead of themselves, humans smell like products. Of specific corporations. Or, more organically, they advertise with the advertisement of some vegetation — amplified extractions of its scent — as if to say ‘I am natural’. But that statement is ridiculously self-conflicted, is it not?”

“A: But I was thinking, perfumes and fragrances are ways to deceive, to lie about oneself or to allow oneself to be misled. Not just the ones we wear, but those in the products we are exposed to and use.

Men and women can no longer olfact upon whether they are compatible; hormonal and other cues are masked or overridden — even signs of disease or other problems can be conveniently obscured by fragrances.

Perfumes are like lies.

Social lubricants.”

— scenes from a conversation