Molecule 01 Escentric Molecules 2006

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Ranked 100 in Unisex Perfume

7.6 / 10 2431 Ratings

A popular perfume by Escentric Molecules for women and men, released in 2006. The scent is woody-synthetic. It is still in production.

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Main accords

Woody

Synthetic

Fresh

Spicy

Sweet

Fragrance Notes

ISO-E-Super

Perfumer

Geza Schön

Ratings

Scent

7.62431 Ratings

Longevity

7.42196 Ratings

Sillage

6.62169 Ratings

Bottle

6.12103 Ratings

Value for money

6.71354 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 07/29/2025.

Interesting Facts

Commercially available qualities of Iso-E-Super consist of at least three substances. Apparently, "Molecule 01" contains only one of these substances, Iso-gamma-Super (source: Scent and Chemistry - The Molecular World of Odors).

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Holle 01 - Eau de Waschsalon

Iso Gamma Super

Molécule 234·38

MOL intens

Paper-

AnOther 13 Eau de Parfum

Reviews

114 in-depth fragrance descriptions

06/20/2024

Systemshaak
14 Reviews

Systemshaak

Very helpful Review 11

Your Mileage May Vary, My Mileage Was Terrifying

"It's a subtle scent, one you can layer on top of other things!" "It's one note, a very simple synthetic!" Okay, fellow commenters on the subreddit and over here, I'm in, I love the chemistry behind fragrances and my favorites are synthetic-heavy. Geza Schoen made Ormonde Jayne Ambre Royale and that stuff is amazing. Why not? I got myself a 2 ml sample - an official Escentric Molecules sample of M01. I decided to be safe and just spray it once on my left arm.

You know that part in the 90s "The Mummy" where the scarab goes into the guy's skin, crawls up, and kills him? That was the intensity and horror going on with that one spray. I had made a huge mistake being *only* that safe. The first-spray experience was like having my own personal fragrance black hole on my arm, composed of some sort of cedar/citrus matter on the outside but hollow - missing something important - a palpable scent void. It consumed joy as sustenance, a veritable Perfume Dementor.

The drydown - look, there was no drydown. It just grew and grew. The cedar and citrus got more and more uncanny and weird as I tried to sit through it. I scrubbed it three times to no avail!

Upon threatening to overwhelm everything, I apologized to my wife about this ridiculously strong scent wormhole consuming our entire house, and she went "what do you mean?" I told her about the test on my arm. She sniffed my arm and said "yeah that's okay, a little faint." Wait, what?

Anyway, this is my cautionary tale. My experience was so different from what you'll usually hear about that I won't even rate this, it wouldn't be fair. I'll just rate the bottle, which absolutely rules. You may very well enjoy iso-gamma-super (however different or similar it is from super), or it may threaten your senses like six suddenly uncloaked Klingon Birds-of-Prey. Approach with care.

03/14/2014

Deefit
33 Reviews

Deefit

Very helpful Review 5

ISO E Super..

Recently I bought a 20% solution of Iso E Super, I figured it would be the same as Molecule 01. Today I smelled Molecule 01 for the first time and my solution is much stronger. So strong even, that I can pick it up perfectly throughout the entire day. Molecule 01 however is much, MUCH more subtle. It surfaces and disappears at random, but a few hours after application on just my wrist, my father clearly picked up on it. Apparantly this stuff radiates like crazy, but I could barely smell it.

I thought I had some insight into the mystery of Iso E Super with my 'home' made solution, but Molecule 01 really is a mysterious fragrance. It acts like an enhanced skinscent I suppose, clearly detectable by those around me. If this is the case with a 10% solution of Iso E Super, I wonder how others perceive my 20% solution? Every time I wear it, people ask me what it is, it gets compliments like crazy.

Today I layered Molecule 01 with Escentric 01 and I was quite amazed actually. I like it, but it's a pity they're marketed to be bought as a pair.

03/26/2012

5
Bottle 10
Sillage 10
Longevity 10
Scent

Muskwood
5 Reviews

Muskwood

Very helpful Review 5

Iso E Super, truly superb

Molecule 01 is basically 100% Iso E Super (diluted with alcohol), the chemical/molecule that has been used in many well-known perfumes in the past as a base note. So it is a very familiar, comfortable smell.

When I tried it on for the first time, for the first few seconds, it smelled very synthetic and "chemicaley", but after a few minutes, Iso E Super developed on my as skin as this warm, soft-edged sweet woody scent. The smell is very intimate- it's not overwhelming at all because it's such a warm and "round" scent, but it does radiate around the wearer. So people will notice it, but never in an aggressive way. To be precise it is slightly sweet, slightly spicy, very woody, pretty soft, and a little musky too. It smells like sweet and warm cedarwood and sandalwood. If this scent could be characterized as colors, I would attribute a velvet/dark burgundy tint to it.

If you ever try it on you will notice that at times you won't be able to smell it anymore, thinking it has disappeared, but all of a sudden you'll catch a glimpse of it; the smell will come to you in waves.

A lot of people have criticized it because of a few reasons: it's not a perfume at all, it's just a chemical. And it's absolutely ridiculous to buy a $135 bottle for just a single-note scent- that you can create yourself for approx. 20$ (with about 85% perfumer's alcohol and 15% Iso E Super). And then still call it as "Molecule 01" whereas it should just be called Iso E Super.

But I have to say that I'm addicted to it, and I'm thankful that Geza Schoen has thought of trying the Iso E Super molecule on its own.

Of course, if you don't feel like making your own Iso E Super concoction, then go ahead and get a bottle of Molecule 01 because the effect that it has is truly uncomparable to any other perfume. I love it, and it makes a great signature scent because the longevity is quite remarkable. It stays on your skin for about 5-10 hours (depending on your pH balance) but even if by the end you think the scent has gone, other people will still be able to smell it on you.

It definitely has a velvety-woody feel to it, and if Iso E Super works for you, it will provide you with an amazing aura and emanation.

09/09/2022

8
Pricing 7
Bottle 7
Sillage 8
Longevity 8
Scent

PetitePinup
28 Reviews

PetitePinup

Helpful Review 8

Original, lovely, but no safe blind buy

In the last 15 years my perfume collection has certainly changed - ageing, different skin chemistry and different interests contributed to that, but Molecule 01 is one of the handful that remains from my early to mid 2000s stash.

And with good reason. While TikTok and YouTube is en messe raving about the originality of Juliette has a Gun - Not a Perfume we older youngsters (or younger oldies) and/or the informed/researchers know they're not as original as they'd like to be. With Molecule 01 and in 2008 Molecule 02 (Ambroxan like JHAG) they were first in the "one note fragrance" biz.

I remember it well. One of the better known perfume stores in my country had an Amouage & scent note intro course night and I ran to the opportunity of learning new things. While I didn't learn that much - other than understanding I'd never be able to afford Amouage - the docent of the evening told me I "would be ideal for this new polarising fragrance with just one synthetic note". Some could smell it, some couldn't. Some could smell it on others, not themselves or vice versa. Intrigued I let him spray me and the rest is history.

Not only can I smell it, but most can smell it ON me and when wearing it I always get compliments - men and women, young and old. That particular evening I had half the town hanging in my neck. I haven't been pawed like that since...

I'm usually more of a Floriental, Amber Floral, Chypre or even Fruity-floral gal (gourmand rarely) and shun freshies and unisex, so Molecule 01 changed the game for me.

Not only can I smell it on myself and will I suddenly get an extra strong whiff during the day, but the scent seems to develop during said day and also change with the seasons. I prefer it most on moderate summer days and warmer spring ones, but it's definitely yummy in colder months too.

The scent ranges from fresh laundry, to a spicy wood, from sweet creamy cedar to a musky, almost vanillic touch on its own. Layered with, imho preferably a floral or Fruity-floral, other fragrances Molecule 01 enhances the other perfume or creates a wonderful marriage where a new fragrance emerges. I used to love to combine it with Lempicka's Fleur Defendue and have now found a worthy partner in Libre Intense. I am eager to try out a relationship with the Middle Eastern fragrances coming my way. And if I can ever find an affordable truly good vanilla or luscious jasmine perfume I'll definitely give it the Ol" M01 try.

Longevity of this perfume is amazing and with my dry perfume eating skin that's no mean feat to begin with. On some days it's even as if Molecule becomes stronger the longer I wear it, only to go back to normal after 6hrs and then taking a few extra hours to slowly fade to a skin scent afterwards. But... even when you think you've lost projection/sillage you can suddenly get a "cloud" of Molecule 01 in your nose, almost out of nowhere, reminding you he isn't gone at all. All in all, it definitely lingers and on clothing it can be a matter of days. In winter, if I put on my fragrance just before going outside, my scarf catches "the brunt" and the wool will keep its soft Molecule 01 flavour for 2 to 3 days. Because it's such a great layering scent and I've never known one to dislike it I never mind that.

As for sillage... I'm thinking moderate - about an armslength up to 2 meters based on the comments. Because I'm quite chill in my sprays, unless a fragrance is really too soft for me and I need to double down to keep it for a few hours, I don't think my sillage is that heavy-duty. However, most people do notice it when I walk by and my previous downstairs neighbour always knew immediately when I wore it when I opened my door and she was on the outside doorstep (that's a separation about the length of an NBA player lying on the ground).

I do like the bottle, the very sleek simple design with the I000II0 numbers and just Molecule 01 in small silver lettering and on the back silver/ black bubbles conveying molecules in a liquid shining through to the front. It's a masculine design, but I like it and it suits the scent and brand. (I really want to try their other perfumes, especially now that they've added 1 flower note to the ISO.) However the nozzle and spray are somewhat...challenging. My travel/refill package 30ml was okay, but the 100ml bottles seem to have a rather - almost - singular spray instead of a fine mist. No idea if I've been just unlucky with the larger bottles, but it makes it harder to get the amount right and I just don't like it. I want my Hugo Boss/Zara nozzles! Those are so so fine and soft... sigh. But that's about the only thing wrong with Escentrics' number 1.

Would I recommend it? As a blind buy, definitely not. But I do recommend for a sample/decant. Molecule 01 needs to be tested and at least 24-48hrs experienced before you pull the trigger on it. Depending on your skin chemistry and even your olfactory senses you'll know how it'll smell, if you're anosmic to it or will become so fast, or if you can smell it and get a nice or even divine scent out of it.

For me it's a keeper. If it was a man I'd marry him. For now I'll leave that up to my other fragrances.

04/25/2012

7.5
Bottle 5
Sillage 10
Longevity 10
Scent

Dolby
68 Reviews

Dolby

Helpful Review 6

When less IS more

I love this stuff.
Granted, it's a great big con considering it only contains Iso-E-Super, which you can get for next to nothing on the net, but if you can get a bottle for cheap (or not, depending on your means), get it.

It smells delicious ... I almost fancy myself when I wear it.

It is one of the nicest and truly unisex fragrances I have smelt. It's musky, slightly peppery, a touch woody, and behaves in a peculiar way, playing hide and seek all day long.

Unfortunately, for some, it only plays hide. Depends on the old skin chemistry I guess. To my nose, it's perfect.

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