Ylem Parfums Launches NGC 6302, a Cosmic Scent by Andreas

Ylem Parfums has launched NGC 6302, a new fragrance composed by perfumer Andreas Wilhelm and inspired by the cosmic extremes of the Butterfly Nebula. The scent is a highly conceptual work that translates stellar fire and ice into an olfactory form, according to a review by Nicoleta Tomsa for ÇaFleureBon.

Drawing from the brand's focus on cosmic inspiration, NGC 6302 takes its name from a specific planetary nebula. NGC 6302, known as the Butterfly Nebula, features a central star with a temperature estimated at roughly 220,000°C alongside regions containing water ice crystals. Founder and creative director Moritz Sulz leads the house, which aims to blend science, mysticism, and imagination in its fragrances.

The Olfactory Journey

The review describes the scent unfolding in three distinct phases. It opens with a kinetic, unsettling blend of overripe and flash-frozen tropical fruits. Notes of buchu leaves bring a minty-sulphureous quality, while lemon zest and cardamom add a tangy, high-pitched bite. A chill runs through this opening, complemented by green accents and the fragile softness of apple blossom.

The fragrance then evolves into a dense, floral heart. Tuberose, jasmine sambac, and narcissus create a thick, almost fleshy fullness. The narcissus is said to thread a deep green, animalic suggestion of sun-scorched hay through the white flowers, contributing to a sensation of overheating and revival.

A Smoky, Cosmic Drydown

The final phase introduces smoky, earthy, and metallic elements. Incense and smoke drift through, with patchouli providing a dark, familiar weight. The atmosphere turns flame-orange with ambery facets before an ozonic, metallic thread of a space accord returns, closing the olfactory circle. The overall effect is described as an abstract mix of warm, cold, airy, and hot sensations.

Perfumer Andreas Wilhelm is credited with making the avant-garde arrangement strangely pretty. The fruits retain a metallic edge yet remain tempting, while the florals conceal sharpness within their beauty. The fragrance is presented as a wearable artistic exploration, a dial that can pull the cosmic trip back to skin level.

The Notes Breakdown

The fragrance's composition is structured into three phases, as listed by the brand.

Nicoleta Tomsa's review concludes by praising the scent for enabling epic, imaginative journeys. She highlights the room for out-of-the-box ideas and emotional exploration within perfumery, crediting the collaboration between Sulz and Wilhelm for keeping such excitement alive.