Nasty, dirty freaks— is there anything hotter than Nine Inch Nails? Well, probably. And it’s smelling good. Like, really good. NIN is the perfect encapsulation of horniness, nihilism, and a subversion of power.
For most of its existence, Nine Inch Nails has really been Trent Reznor—a singular creative force shaping its sound, vision, and bite. English composer Atticus Ross officially joined in 2016, but before that, the project was almost entirely Reznor’s domain.
Their 1989 debut Pretty Hate Machine cemented NIN as a force in industrial history. Since then, they’ve released 11 albums and gone on to score some of pop culture’s biggest films, including Challengers, Gone Girl, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and the upcoming Tron.
Reznor has collaborated with a wide range of artists and drawn inspiration from icons like David Bowie, Ministry, Prince, and, of course, Gary Numan. “After hearing ‘Cars,’ I knew I wanted to make music with synthesizers,” Reznor once said of Numan’s hit. One of my personal high points? His work with Bowie on Afraid of Americans—a paranoid, grinding anthem that feels just as relevant now as it did in the late ’90s.
As a generally horny person and someone who’s at least somewhat goth, what I appreciate most about NIN is their willingness to explore power dynamics—the perverseness bordering on crude, the constant push and pull of submission and dominance. I also love their willingness to experiment, to really play with melodies and textures. Industrial can be so misunderstood, dismissed as noise when in reality it’s razor-sharp and deliberate, every harsh edge placed with intent.
And, in case you were wondering, Trent has a complicated relationship with someone else I’ve talked about (and paired scents for) extensively: Courtney Love. Allegedly. I love how small the world is, don’t you?
Now, with all of that, let’s get to the real fun: fragrances. Here are some scent pairings to correspond with NIN’s discography.
Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
For a debut independent album, Pretty Hate Machine was an incredible success. It hit the Billboard 200 in February 1990 and eventually peaked at 75. That’s wild considering most of its momentum came through word of mouth, quickly building an underground following. Reznor once described it as “the all-purpose alternative album,” noting, “If you want to stage dive to it, you can, but if you’re a big Depeche Mode fan, you can get what you need out of it as well.”
The record samples everyone from Prince to Jane’s Addiction to Public Enemy. Critics praised it for being edgy yet accessible, which I think is core to NIN. They’re undeniably dangerous and dark, but the slick sharpness of the beats makes their work surprisingly approachable, especially for listeners new to alternative music.
Personally, I’m explicitly drawn to “Terrible Lie.” It’s layered and synth-heavy. And like every other freak, I adore “Head Like a Hole.” It’s essential alternative listening: sharp, aggressive, and so infamous it was banned from airplay after 9/11, when Clear Channel Communications added it to their 2001 list of “post-9/11 inappropriate song titles.”
When I think of Pretty Hate Machine, I think of something a little dirty, a little funky, unpolished on the surface but deeply refined underneath. Enter Stercus by Orto Parisi, my luxe pick. This one isn’t for prudes (and really, nothing on this list is). The brand describes it as “A part of the essential body functioning and a natural way to fertilize the soil. It is the secret sweetness that attracts, and the animalic side that offends. A sign of an infinite life circle. The smell of an end and the beginning.”
As provocative as that sounds, it’s surprisingly wearable. A woody, powdery scent with almond, anise, aldehydes, rose, leather, agarwood, musk, and vanilla. Think smoked almondy oud with a warm skin-close sweetness. Don’t let the marketing scare you; provocation is part of the brand’s identity.
Now for something equally compelling, look to Stel by Treading Water Perfume (affordable pick). This fragrance captures all the grit of the album—the dirt, the perversion, the rawness. Notes include motor oil, metal, desert air, frankincense, and oud. It smells like a back alley, a kinky scene, pure perversion and anger. There’s a metallic, almost plastic edge, but the desert air note gives it a humid quality that keeps it unsettling in the best way. This is not a safe wear by any means. It’s unapologetically metallic, bold, and confrontational.
If you want something in a similar spirit but slightly different, more wearable, the brand also makes Demonaide, a bloody, woody rose that leans into another side of the grotesque. Pretty interesting.
The Downward Spiral (1994)
Perhaps Nine Inch Nails’ best-known album, The Downward Spiral is home to what’s lovingly become known as goth W.A.P., the song “Closer.” By their second studio album, Trent had already gained an audience and critical acclaim, but this release cemented his place in music history. The record chronicles the downward spiral of a man ultimately brought to suicide and was recorded in the house where actress Sharon Tate was murdered.
Both an instant commercial and critical success, it earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Alternative Performance. During recording, David Bowie’s Low served as a major inspiration. Sonically and thematically, the album shreds. It strips away the comforts of life layer by layer, confronting religion, dehumanization, violence, disease, society, drugs, sex, and finally suicide. It’s also lived with its share of controversies, from questions from the Tate family about exploitation to disagreements between Reznor and collaborators, and even political blame in the wake of the Columbine shooting. A delicate balance of infamy and artistry.
To pair with your listening pleasure, I’m of course going somewhat horny. After all, “Closer” is on this album. Dirty Suede by Heretic (luxe pick) fits the bill perfectly. Notes include cedar, white amber, pink pepper, jasmine, balsam, patchouli, musk, and vetiver. It’s woody and warm, like a pine box or hide, and pairs beautifully with the lyrics to “Closer.” Moderate projection keeps it intimate—enough to notice, not enough to overwhelm. On my skin, I get about five hours of wear, with a drydown that leans vetiver and cedar with a touch of leather.
Keeping things horny, because that’s what you want, I’d also recommend Dev #2 / The Main Act by Olympic Orchids (affordable pick). It’s warm with a spiced amber base and a smoky edge, featuring labdanum, balsam, black agar, musks, castoreum, civet, cistus oil, incense, cade, and leather. The civet adds an unmistakable animalic quality. I wouldn’t suggest it as a blind buy, but Ministry of Scent offers samples if you’re curious. It’s a little dangerous, a little indulgent, and perfect for any spiral.
The Fragile (1999)
In one of NIN’s more personal works, The Fragile arrived as a double album and marked a departure from what Trent had been known for. Critics were split—Alternative Press called it nothing short of astounding, while the haters at Pitchfork dismissed the lyrics as “overly melodramatic.” Kind of twisted to say in a review of an album grappling with personal struggles and substance abuse. Despite that, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 228,000 copies in its first week, with little promotion from the label.
The Fragile leans more ambient, dipping into electronic spaces while still rooted in rock. For that shift, I think the fragrance pairing should also feel different from the previous recommendations. My luxe pick is Sakura Snow by d’Annam, a cool, refreshing scent that captures that moment near the end of winter when spring is just on the horizon. Notes include cherry blossom, snow, solar notes, juniper berry, muguet, and white musk. It’s very cherry blossom forward—delicate yet kept interesting by the crisp snow note. Cherry blossoms often symbolize hope and renewal, which pairs beautifully with this album, especially considering it was during the self-funded tour for The Fragile that Reznor first attempted to get sober. A new chapter, in scent form.
For something equally delicate but more subversive, I recommend Yawahada by J-Scent (affordable pick). It’s lactonic and sweet, versatile yet sophisticated, bordering on the scent of clean skin. It feels close and intimate, with notes of pear, green note, milk, rice powder, rose, jasmine, musk, sandalwood, and amber. It projects just enough to have people leaning in and asking, “What are you wearing?”
With Teeth (2005)
NIN's fourth studio album explores Reznor's struggle with addiction and his subsequent sobriety. Musically, it leans harder into industrial rock than its predecessors while still carrying traces of synth-pop and new wave. Released in a post-9/11 world, it takes on themes tied to that era—most notably with "The Hand That Feeds." The track sparked controversy when the band was scheduled to perform it at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards but dropped out after a dispute between Reznor and MTV over his plan to project an image of then-President George W. Bush during the performance.
For "With Teeth," I think of something sharp and punchy—something fresh, like the opening after a storm. For that feeling, Black Citrus by Vilhelm Parfumerie fits the bill perfectly. It's my luxe pick: a goth citrus that's not your typical gourmand citrus. You won't smell like fresh-squeezed lemon; instead, it's much darker and more daring. The fragrance opens with cardamom and Calabrian bergamot, moves through mate leaves and violet in the middle, then settles into a base of birch, Indonesian patchouli, and vetiver. It's sharp with nice projection, giving me about 6 to 7 hours of wear. What really stands out is an overwhelming bergamot and vetiver combination that feels perfectly aligned with the album's edgy intensity.
For something similar but more moody, try Neroli Botanica by Essential Parfums—my affordable pick. It's cleaner and more "wet" but still plenty crisp. The white floral elements from the neroli create something like holy water, offering a sense of purification that echoes the album's themes of recovery and renewal. The fragrance features pink pepper, black pepper, ginger, and turmeric in the opening, jasmine, neroli, and orange blossom in the heart, and sandalwood, vetiver, and benzoin in the base. It wears closer to the skin with about 5 hours of longevity.
Year Zero (2007)
Listen, for brevity, I won't include as much of the context moving forward—go to Pitchfork or Rolling Stone or something. Come to me for horny shit and fragrances. However, I will say this album hits different in 2025, and is worth listening to in a post-Trump world. It's closer than ever.
With that said, there's only one pick for this album: ASKR by Jorum Studio. Notes include ash, salt, chamomile, driftwood, ambergris, vetiver, and seagrass. It's somewhat dystopian—charred and smoky with that ash hitting heavy, especially for the first few hours. Eventually it mellows into a marine scent that's very distinctive for a certain kind of person. One of the few scents I've found like it.
Ghosts I-IV (2008)
Now granted, there are a lot of different energies and emotions going through Ghosts, but overall it's very ambient. So I think things that wear closer to the skin are in order.
I like Santalum Slivers by Kerosene for a luxe pick. I think this is one of the better picks from the brand, which yeah, I also think the bottle is in the family of NIN—like distant cousins. Anyway, this scent has notes of sandalwood, musk, vetiver, cedar, cucumber, hay, pepper, rose, bergamot, Italian lemon, orange, and grapefruit. On me I don't get a lot of cucumber; I find it to be particularly minimal. I do however get a lot of grapefruit and sandalwood, with some of that hay. It's a little bright, but also just very grounded. Very wearable, and honestly reminds me of those days when you just walk around and look at everything with music in your headphones. It's nice for getting lost but not taking up too much noise.
For something that also feels like getting lost, but perhaps more in nature and less in the city, I'd say Philosia by Korres, my affordable pick. It's quite nice, smells a bit more elevated than its price point. It's what I want to wear when I'm doing a light hike at the local forest preserve. When I want to think and focus on whatever is inside, but still need a soft hum, whether it's fragrances or the album. It's got notes of bergamot, orange, mandarin, pine, eucalyptus, anise star, musk, cedarwood, and patchouli. It does have a rather short life, literally a two-hour hike, but still it's very nice.
The Slip (2008)
This album features one of my personal favorites, “Discipline.” And yes, maybe that’s because I’m a freak who craves structure and, frankly, uses kink as a framework for my life goals. TMI? Probably—but it’s also kind of the brand I’m building.
When I think about With Teeth, I don’t hear chaos so much as I feel this sleek, cold polish—danger wrapped in control. That’s where Himitsu Violets by Régime des Fleurs comes in. Notes include muguet, heliotrope, violet, saffron, tolu balsam, and suede. I love this fragrance. It wears beautifully—about four hours with strong projection, then another three with a softer, close-to-the-skin presence. It opens a little powdery, but that quickly fades into a sophisticated violet, warmed and grounded by suede. It’s polished yet dangerous, very feminine, very “mommy.” Perfect for those yearning for discipline.
If Himitsu feels too bold, there’s always Rhizome 04 by Rhizome, my affordable pick. With lavender, oud, tobacco, cedarwood, vetiver, amber, sandalwood, and white musk, it leans fresher and cleaner, thanks to the lavender and musk. It’s an easy choice for the corporate industrial babes—moody but office-friendly. Compared to Himitsu, it’s warmer and more sensual, but it still carries that polished sexuality at its core.
Hesitation Marks (2013)
Underrated and nuanced—that's the theme. There's a depth to it, a marking of looking at your past and not recognizing that person, but also not recognizing your future self. So naturally, we need a fragrance that's nuanced.
I think Five O'Clock Au Gingembre by Serge Lutens is a nice fit. It's also pretty different from anything on the list. It's an evolving ginger, which is very reminiscent of healing and transformation. This has notes of tea, bergamot, cinnamon, candied ginger, pepper, honey, amber, cacao, and patchouli. It starts a little sweet; I get that heavy ginger candy coming through. And when I say sweet I don't mean cloying, but rather warm and filling. As it dries down I see some of those tea notes come through, and so it's a heavy ginger tea with woody notes. It's nuanced, and there's a lot of evolution throughout it, which mirrors the place of the album. It's got a pretty good wear time at around 6 or 7 hours.
For something same but different, but affordable, look to Culot Thé by Versatile Paris. It's still in that tea family and has notes of ginger, but it's way more tea heavy. It's got notes of jasmine, citrus, tonic, tea, apricot, spicy, and wasabi. So yeah, there's some nice healing sharpness, but it's still very versatile. I do think it's good for a lot of different occasions, and is fairly safe for a blind buy, if you must. I don't think the projection is crazy—something for just you.
Bad Witch (2018)
How do you encapsulate trying to understand your place in the world?
So I find Noisette by Maison d'Etto, as my luxe pick. I find it to be a fresh clean earth lavender-y, a bit powdery, a bit muddy. It encapsulates all the good parts of the world and nature. It can be a bit of a reckoning in the way I find the album to be. It's got notes of magnolia flower, musk, orris, concrete, French lavender oil, ambrette seed, and white amber. I do overwhelmingly get that musky lavender smell. It's a bit cozy and familiar. I do think it's got a nice projection as well. It does air on the side of more sophisticated though, so not quite as loud as some parts of this album.
For something more affordable, I love No. 11 by BLOMB Fragrance. I absolutely adore this brand; I love how nuanced their scents are at the price point. This particular fragrance has notes of clary sage, grapefruit, and tarragon. It's very lived-in and authentic. The grapefruit keeps it lively enough; it balances so well with the sage. I think it exists on opposite spectrums, which is what makes it so compelling.
Ghosts V: Together (2020)
Again, something ambient is in order, something for writing. I think Ten Fifteen by Room 1015 is very nice. It's a bit floral, a bit woody, and a hint of citrus. I think it is rather eccentric, a bit beatnik in its notes, which include saffron, mandarin, iris, violet, sandalwood, papyrus, and gaiac wood. But because of the closeness in which it wears, it almost becomes ambient. When smelling it I do get a lot of that papyrus. It's very interesting, kind of like journaling. There's both a hopefulness and a melancholy I get when wearing it. Hopeful for the future, sad for the past... or maybe vice versa, which Ghosts encapsulates quite well.
Architect's Daughter by The New Savant is a really lovely affordable option. Granted it's a mist, and a proper perfume. It's a very orangey paper. It feels clean, and it kind of just rolls off your nose. I love it for when I want to focus. I do think it lasts better on skin than on clothes. Its notes include juicy grapefruit, salty tears, fresh bergamot, crisp paper, orange blossom, petit grain, cedarwood shavings, rubber eraser accord, and golden amber.
Ghosts VI: Locusts (2021)
The COVID album, so something grim and haunting. Something that encapsulates frustration and fear, confusion, and paranoia.
Might I suggest Ink by AKRO? It's got this interesting energy to it—it's one of those fragrances that really lands differently on everyone. Its notes include ink, birch, vetiver, and jasmine. I certainly get that ink scent, very much like a new plastic cartridge, like the metal tools fresh from the sanitized wrapping at a dentist... but like you wanna wear it? It's hard to describe, but I wouldn't describe it as a safe blind buy. But is it haunting? Yeah. Is it cold? Yep. Is it something that intrigues you? Most definitely.
For something a bit different, I think Multiball by Pearfat Parfum could be interesting. It's kind of seedy, it's a bit different. Now it's supposed to be a cola fragrance with some metallic notes. But I mostly get straight-up metallic—think like a pinball machine. There's something familiar but still cold about it. Its notes include Coca-Cola, lime, cedar, metallic notes, and patchouli.
Well, thanks for joining me. Because of the size of their discography, I did not include EPs or any of Trent's many soundtracks. Perhaps if there's interest, I will. But there's plenty of good stuff to wear here. Granted, when I saw them on the Peel Back tour, I wore Oud Immortal by Byredo—in part because it's what I wear for moments I particularly want to remember, like my wedding or big events. Yeah, I'm fake as hell. What's new. Anyway, thanks for being here.
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