The plan was simple (and then you showed up)

The original blueprint was to build a corner of the internet where you do not need a master's degree in chemistry to figure out what you actually like. A place where saying "this smells exactly like vanilla cupcakes" completely wins out over "an opulent symphony of half-wilted eucalyptus from Zimbabwe." Put it online, cross our fingers, and see if anyone else was as exhausted by the marketing fluff as we were.
Turns out, a whole lot of you were.
You did not just quietly show up. You actively voiced your frustrations with the rest of the fragrance internet, calling out the usual sponsored reviews and endless marketing spin. You told us point-blank that "this is not how fragrance people think" until we finally fixed the code to reflect exactly how you do.
We did not just build smell100 and politely hand it over to a community. The community reached right into the engine and rebuilt the whole thing while we watched. Getting overly sentimental is not really our style, mostly because nobody in this room signed up for a support group. We will just say it plainly: that was definitely not the plan, it was vastly better than the plan, and it is the exact reason any of this actually works. Thank you.
So, what actually happens on May 20?
The platform itself does not close. It stays firmly rooted in our core philosophy: built by the community, for the community. Whoever joins after that date still gets to shape the data, drive the evolution, and be heard exactly the same way. That open-door policy never expires.
The Visionary badge, however, does.
May 20 is our official launch day. After that, the founding chapter officially shuts. Not because we want to lock the doors, but because "founding" is a specific moment in time, and moments eventually end. Holding that badge means you get a louder voice on the platform forever, access to premium features for life, and absolutely zero ads, ever. It is also the permanent answer to that one question asked in every single community worth belonging to: Were you there at the very beginning, or did you show up after the paint was dry?

Deciding what comes next
Since day one, every single feature and tweak has come to life because the community asked for it. Looking ahead, any new feature we roll out still has to boost real social interaction, be highly shareable so other like-minded fragheads can feed their obsession alongside us, and ultimately elevate the whole platform. Most importantly, every addition should help users cut through the noise, discover exactly what they like, and easily express their true selves without the snobbery.
We have an overwhelming number of amazing feature suggestions, and we really want to build every single one. But since we cannot code them all at the exact same time, we need to decide what takes priority.
So, we are flipping it back over to you. You tell us what to build next, the very first thing after the launch.
Vote on the next feature (Google Forms)
Four options, a clear breakdown of what each one actually does, and one crucial vote. We will be gathering the votes until the end of May.
The doors are closing, but the party is just starting
Building a rational home for a completely irrational hobby has been the wildest ride so far. We originally set out to create a better fragrance tool, but somehow, we ended up with a slightly dysfunctional, highly opinionated, and absolutely brilliant family.
The doors to that founding chapter are swinging shut very soon, but there is still a little bit of time left on the clock. If you know a fellow fraghead who deserves to wear the Visionary badge, someone who will passionately argue about the vibes and help elevate this space right alongside us, please bring them in.
Keep reading


Confessions of a rational fragrance obsessive
There are 200 decants next to this keyboard and a spreadsheet that calculates the real cost per wear of every bottle. Here is what that spreadsheet taught us about fragrance — and why we built smell100 around it.


Between social harmony and inner peace: Japan's unique scent culture
Hello, I'm Rina, a perfume lover living in Japan. I joined the smell100 community because I believe scent is a universal language that deeply connects people across borders. Today, I'd like to introduce you to the mysterious and delicate world of Japanese scent culture.
Comments (13)
Sign in to leave a comment...Congrats!! Crazy to think how the platform grew so much in just the span of a few months, and how far it can grow into the future! I'm really glad you reached out and asked me to test it out, as I never would've discovered a platform as cool as this on my own haha. I love seeing how Smell100 has evolved, and hope it goes even further. Thank you for creating such a welcoming, and unique platform to approach perfume collecting! Hope that this passion project of yours brings lots of joy to everyone who uses it!!
Pitching a crazy idea to a stranger on the internet and having them actually show up to help build it is still hard to comprehend. Your feedback, contributions, and our friendly conversations from day one have been completely unreal. 🤗 Thank you for taking the leap with us, and yes, we will absolutely continue to make this platform as enjoyable as possible! 🥳
Of course! Still so crazy to think that the internet allows strangers all over the world to come together and collaborate and share insight on so many topcs! Likewise, it has been amazing to chat with you! Regarding perfume and other aspects of life :). I think I have to thank you honestly haha, and I'm excited to see what smell100 comes through with next!
I wish I could dedicate all my time here. I love it, I want to share it with my world. Watching this site build itself literally from the ground and up has been a privilege and I can't thank you enough for including me. 🥰👍🏻 I'm so very looking forward to seeing the user base swell with interesting people, perfumes and philosophies.
Paying the bills with perfume opinions is the absolute dream, right? 😅 Your energy has been a massive part of getting this whole thing off the ground. Watching the community and our philosophy grow along the way, especially with like-minded people like you, makes it all more than worth it. Thank you!
I was lucky to be one of the early invites, and what stood out straight away was how different this felt. Less about decoding what something is *supposed* to smell like, more about just saying what you actually smell. That shift sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly rare. It’s been really interesting to watch that original idea grow into something much bigger — a community that still feels genuine and shaped by the people in it. And on a personal note — thank you for the opportunity to be part of this. It’s been a genuinely meaningful experience, and one I’ll carry with me. I’m excited to see where this goes next, and very happy (and a bit proud) to be part of it.
Just glad our original path of "decoding" was so well accepted by this wonderful community. So yes, you should absolutely be proud of it because your unique voice has shaped this project and will continue to shape that culture. Thank you for it! Having you on board for this next chapter is a massive win, and we can not wait to see what it brings. 💪🏼
I am excited about this new chapter, and I am happy to see that your original idea grew into a beautiful and unique community. I hope smell100 gets more and more fragheads who share their thoughts and knowledge with each other. Being a part of this makes me very proud and happy. And, of course, I am not the only one who feels this way. “Audentes fortuna iuvat”, fortune favours the bold. You dared to create this site, you took that chance. Now, I am sure that fortune will be on your side :)
Wonderful. That quote is definitely going straight onto the office whiteboard. 🫶🏼 Taking the leap to build this was a bit of a gamble, but it only worked out because people like you showed up to back the vision. Thank you! All your support and the unique voice you put into shaping the platform are what drive this whole project forward, and we are just getting started! ☺️
Thank you very much for the opportunity to be part of this journey. I’ve tried to contribute as much as time allows, although alongside this hobby I’m also involved in fundraising for the treatment of a couple of children with rare conditions, whilst balancing a full-time job and family life, so life is usually quite hectic for me. I truly believe everyone here has shown incredible dedication in helping to build this community, and if we continue to support one another, I’m sure this page will continue to thrive.
Wow! Hearing that you actually make time to hang out with us between your fundraising efforts, your family, and your full-time job is genuinely humbling. We deeply appreciate your support and all the amazing contributions you still manage to squeeze in. Just like you said, as long as we continue to support each other, the only way from here is up! 🤗
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to be part of creating this platform. It has been an incredible joy, a truly beautiful and meaningful experience, and a lesson I will always carry with me. I feel genuinely happy and grateful to be here, sharing this journey with you. Wishing you all the success in the world as the platform officially launches. I’m cheering for you every step of the way. 🥰
Your support, kindness, and contributions have been a constant highlight throughout this wild ride. Thank you! Having you cheering with us means everything, and the journey from here is only going to get better! 🚀