Space Rose Pleases the Senses

About this technology

Overview

International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), Inc., discovered a new scent, known as the space rose" note by flying a miniature rose plant called the "Overnight Scentsation aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Flight STS-95. IFF and the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics (WCSAR) partnered to fly the rose plant in the commercial plant research facility, ASTROCULTURE,T for reduced-gravity environment research. The end result was that the rose produced an entirely new scent that was not from Earth. IFF commercialized the space rose note, which is now a fragrance ingredient in a perfume developed by Shiseido Cosmetics (America), Ltd. In addition to providing a light crisp scent, the oil from the space rose can also serve as a flavor enhancer. Other products, including ones which use the scent in food, are likely to be on the way. ASTROCULTURET is a trademark of the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics.