From Cosmopolitan · Kara McGrath · · 2m
Future Society Base Scent Review
A new scent care product shifts skin microbiome to naturally reduce body odor.
In brief
A new scent care product shifts skin microbiome to naturally reduce body odor. Future Society's Base Scent uses microbiome shifts to help users smell less stinky without deodorant or perfume. Originally reported by Cosmopolitan.
Quick answers
- What is Base Scent?
- Base Scent is an unscented daily treatment designed to help your body smell good on its own without being a deodorant or perfume.
- How does Base Scent work?
- Base Scent shifts your skin’s microbiome to encourage bacteria that produce pleasant scents instead of bad body odor.
- Who created Base Scent?
- Jasmina Aganovic, a cosmetic scientist and chemical engineer, founded Future Society after five years of research.
- How does Base Scent differ from deodorants?
- Unlike deodorants that cover up odor, Base Scent works by shifting skin microbiome to reduce bacteria that cause bad smells.
- Who benefits from Base Scent?
- Athletes, women during reproductive cycles, and older adults with changing skin scents may see the most improvement from Base Scent.
What is Base Scent?
Base Scent is an unscented daily treatment designed to help your body smell good on its own without being a deodorant or perfume.
“It’s not a fragrance. It’s not a deodorant. It’s a whole new category of product that Aganovic is calling "scent care."”
How does Base Scent work?
Base Scent shifts your skin’s microbiome to encourage bacteria that produce pleasant scents instead of bad body odor.
“It’s not like, ‘Oh, now we’re going to make you smell sweet.’ It’s just revealing what was always there.”
Who created Base Scent?
Jasmina Aganovic, a cosmetic scientist and chemical engineer, founded Future Society after five years of research.
“I, of course, didn’t want to smell like BO, but I also didn’t want to smell like my deodorant.”
Expert opinions on Base Scent
Cosmetic chemist Julian Sass says Base Scent feels like the next chapter in personalized beauty, while dermatologist Mona Gohara says it could shift natural skin scent.
“We customize our perfume layering, haircare routines, and skincare regimens, so why not our own scent baseline?”
How does Base Scent differ from deodorants?
Unlike deodorants that cover up odor, Base Scent works by shifting skin microbiome to reduce bacteria that cause bad smells.
“It’s not like, ‘Oh, now we’re going to make you smell sweet.’ It’s just revealing what was always there.”
Base Scent’s microbiome science
Base Scent targets skin microbes that produce pleasant or unpleasant scents to shift your natural skin scent.
“We looked at about a dozen different skin microbes that produce scent molecules”
Who benefits from Base Scent?
Athletes, women during reproductive cycles, and older adults with changing skin scents may see the most improvement from Base Scent.
“Pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause… all of these things really impact our personal scent”
How to use Base Scent
Apply two to four spritzes to clean, bare skin twice daily on areas like armpits, neck, chest, or feet without shaving.
“It’s not like you use it for a certain period of time and then you’re cured of BO”
User experience with Base Scent
After two weeks, the reviewer noticed a neutral scent with less mustiness but no dramatic changes.
“I do think I smell pretty neutral. It’s not a dramatic shift, but it’s not supposed to be”
Future plans for Base Scent
Future Society aims to encourage microbes that produce warmer, sweeter skin scents for users in five years.
“We see how certain microbes actually can have the genetic machinery to produce even more pleasant smells”
Base Scent pricing and availability
Base Scent costs $40 and is available at wearefuturesociety.com.
“$40 wearefuturesociety.com”
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Kara McGrath has over 15 years of beauty journalism experience and focuses on product science.
“Kara McGrath is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan. She’s been a beauty journalist for over 15 years”
What makes Base Scent unique?
Base Scent is the first product to shift skin microbiome for natural scent without deodorant or perfume.
“It’s not a fragrance. It’s not a deodorant. It’s a whole new category of product that Aganovic is calling "scent care."”
Base Scent’s potential impact
Base Scent could help users with sensitive skin who’ve had negative reactions to deodorants.
“I want to make sure people don’t conflate this with a crunchy, granola, natural deodorant alternative”
What happens next?
Future Society plans to encourage microbes that produce warmer, sweeter skin scents for users in five years.
“We see how certain microbes actually can have the genetic machinery to produce even more pleasant smells”
What to remember
Future Society's Base Scent uses microbiome shifts to help users smell less stinky without deodorant or perfume.
