Fighting game players will do almost anything to get an edge: leverless controllers, 540 Hz refresh rate monitors, imported Sanwa buttons. And now there’s apparently a new way to get ahead — gaming fragrances based on Street Fighter 6 characters.
Ingrid, Juri, and Ed are receiving officially licensed fragrance oil sets, each with unique scents. They come with the oil alongside a wood diffuser in a character-specific tin.
Of these, Ingrid is probably the most obvious choice for the collab: Being a multi-dimensional magical girl, she seems like she’d have good hygiene. The other two, Juri and Ed, less so. Ed is a shirtless, seemingly perpetually sweaty boxing dude, while Juri’s whole thing is, well, feet, which aren’t a particularly fragrant part of the body.
As for Ingrid’s oil set, it’s “a scent crafted to enhance clarity in stock accumulation and release timing.” For those unaware, Ingrid’s game plan is to charge up stocks that enhance her projectiles, which can be spent by holding a button to unleash disgusting amounts of damage.
-
Image: CODE Meee, Capcom -
Image: CODE Meee, Capcom
As for how it smells, it has “a light opening of grapefruit and leafy green,” which apparently “evokes an unhurried, continuous flow.”
Juri’s fragrance is described as “a scent crafted to make your hit-confirms feel razor-sharp.” You might not need that advantage, given the character can sort of just hit medium punch twice for an optimal combo or a frame trap, but hey, at least they’re using fighting game terminology.
As for Ed’s, it’s “a scent crafted to let you throw out counter pokes without getting whiff-punished.” Ed, with his incredibly disjointed Psycho Power jabs, can certainly do that. “The elegant freshness of bergamot and the warmth of vetiver combine to create a relaxing space.”
Strange as they may sound, Street Fighter 6 game director Takayuki Nakayama is totally on board. He said in a statement:
This is an item that dramatically deepens your sense of unity with the characters you love. The fragrances deliver both the focus essential for long gaming sessions and a refreshing sensation that gently soothes a mind heated by intense matches. Perfect for switching between on and off, it will make your time in battle feel even more special. The beautiful package art, which expresses each character’s charm to the fullest, is also a must-see. Thank you for creating such a wonderful product.
Each set goes for 6,850 yen (about $42) and is good for 30 uses per bottle. They start shipping in mid-October. However, before you get any ideas that this will be the edge that finally pushes you to Grand Master, keep in mind that each set comes with a disclaimer: “We do not guarantee the effects or benefits of the fragrance.” Sorry, but you’re still going to have to lab out ways to escape Sagat’s oppressive offense on your own.
The brand is from Japanese fragrance company CODE Meee, which describes itself as “a comprehensive fragrance company that provides the optimal scent based on data to individuals and businesses.” It has previously collaborated with singer-songwriter Kayoko Yoshizawa as well as the VTubing agency Hololive.