Are you ready to be transported back to the late ‘90s to early 2000s with DOJAEJUNG? They’re an unexpected sub-unit combining the powers of boy group qualities from your parents' generation and NCTzen’s hunger for a distraction. What from? Perhaps a future NCT sub-unit is in the works, but I still can’t wait, can you? To provide you with further distraction, have you heard “Perfume” yet? Released on April 17, the song was produced by Brandon Arreaga, Colin Magalong, Kaelyn Behr, KIM SUMIN, Landon Sears, MZMC, and Styalz Fuego.

The title track is one of six R&B and electronic-pop songs on the sub-unit’s first mini-album of the same name. Explained in an interview with NME, the group came to be when they performed their vocal harmony skills together at a show in 2022, realizing their potential as a trio. They have since released several promotional videos in the countdown to their debut, such as teasers and a mini-vacation series. Since the release of "Perfume," the audio tracks featured on the album are also available alongside many dance challenges to come, and you can view all of these in NCT DOJAEJUNG's official playlist.

If you’re suffering from unrequited love or a crush, then “Perfume” is the album for you. Every track is centered around the stages of love. “Kiss” is a dreamy track describing the difficulty of lust versus love as you can’t get your crush out of your head, and it certainly doesn’t help when they purposefully lure you in with their touch. Similarly, “Dive” is the moment when you realize you’ve fallen too deep for someone and it’s too late to escape. It shows your vulnerable side, realizing that you need the comfort of your crush and without it, everything feels empty and wrong. “Strawberry Sunday,” on the other hand, enlightens the album with its fast tempo. While it sounds sweet, it actually describes the aftermath of a couple’s first embrace, and when you feel too lazy to get up and be productive the next day. 

Unfortunately for some, this is where things start to get emotional. While the first stage of love is heartwarming, the second stage carries a heavy feeling of heartbreak. On the bright side, you don’t have to miss DOJAEJUNG’s harmonies anymore because “Can We Go Back” brings them back to our ears. If you know love, then you know it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. This track shows the members heartbreak after the breakdown of a relationship, but is all really lost? It seems so in the last track. No album is complete without a ballad, and warning: “Ordinary” will bring a tear to your eyes. The group’s soft vocals mix well with the heartwrenching lyrics of no longer having a strong connection. There's no guide telling you how to act after a traumatic breakup, but at the same time, you don't want to pass by your ex without saying "hello," even if there's no chance of getting them back.

Let's talk about the music video of "Perfume" to brighten things up! It's a little hot in here, don’t you think? If you haven’t seen the music video yet, hop in and strap up because you’re in for a sensual ride. Is that a fully-clothed Jaehyun sitting in a bathtub? What about Jungwoo floating in that pool? And is Doyoung crafting that “Perfume” just for you? Could they be filled with their signature scent? Only they’ll know. Well, keep those images in the back of your mind because there are stranger things yet to come. The entire music video is composed of three things: three handsome boys luring you to buy their first mini-album. The creation of a “Perfume” featuring many ingredients in a scientific lab in a living room, and flyers about said fragrance, until it eventually gets personally delivered by Jungwoo to his crush’s house (what we’re assuming from the short films). And lastly, a throwback theme with synchronized body rolls.

You may have caught on to the mugshot scenes, but did you catch what was on the boards? We know it’s hard to look away from Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Jungwoo’s alluring visuals, but don’t stray from the point (and also, don’t be fooled — there are three charming men hiding behind those personas). The boards discreetly tell us what the members envision the song's meaning as. 

Mixed together, their fragrance is DOJAEJUNG, but separately, each member has a signature scent and name. Have you ever washed your sheets and thought, “This is such a nice scent?” If you haven’t, maybe you need to buy some “white cotton” fabric softener. Doyoung’s “Perfume” signifies the transition from “winter to spring,” when the cozy blanket season comes to an end and you can finally see the cherry blossoms bloom. But, it also represents the sub-unit’s harmony and strength, and the fact that they’re all born in February, calling it “February to April.”

“Bergamot,” however, is a popular ingredient used in many perfumes, but you’ve likely tasted it in many desserts and teas. This fresh citrus fruit reminds Jaehyun of a “forest,” with a hint of that nervous feeling you get and the excitement of an adventure about to happen. If you’re a middle child, however, you know the importance of keeping everything balanced, just like the JAE in DOJAEJUNG does.

Last but not least, the age gap is small, but the wisdom is broad. It’s true what they say: Jungwoo just does not stop caring for others before himself. You can never get too much “citron,” and it pairs well with the youngest’s thought of wanting people to do a double take when they catch a trace of a “refreshing” scent. Entitled “Mood Street,” this fragrance reminds you of the stress you carry while walking down your regular street. It wants you to refresh your mind while keeping life “mysterious, yet stylish.”

Three contrasting scents and stories create one chaotic blend that urges fans toward temptation. If this “Perfume” isn’t real, let’s only watch the music video 127 more times. We’re just kidding! You can watch THE BLOTTER PAPER : Blending Process to discover the members' thoughts about what "Perfume" really means.

To the average person, the purpose of actual “Perfume” is to provide an enticing smell at an important event that makes people ask what you're wearing, but the song lyrics share a different interpretation. In this case, it's not the thought that counts, but the gift itself. Not all people dream of being bought (or made) a special fragrance, but its ability to repel others is the true goal. When DOJAEJUNG find their relationships falling apart, they'll do whatever it takes to win them back. It starts with a spray and ends with a win as the members fight for the girl. But, what she doesn't know is that the scent will unconsciously entice her to go back. The lingering scent, the missing touch, the comfort of having someone beside you, even to message because you know they'll always be there for you… To them, it's love and lust. For her, it's just a game, someone to play with when she's bored — and that's what the members don’t know. What's the most you've ever done for love?

The group's "Triangular Theory of Love" composed of "PASSION," "COMMITMENT," and "INTIMACY" shows us the behind-the-scenes of their desperation to get the girl back. Each stage shows their love through perfectionism, eagerness, and loss after someone better comes along. The first stage talks about being too busy to love someone because you're passionate about the wrong things, even if you think you're giving your best. The second stage talks about just wanting to be with that person, like you're in your honeymoon phase, but that person really just needs a break from you because they're not ready for commitment. And the last stage proves that although you're doing everything you can to keep someone close, they can always be stolen by someone else. It’s the lesson that if you're coming on too strong, then you could be driving someone away.

"Perfume" is a life lesson within a song. And even if it doesn't have a physical fragrance, it's still the best advertisement we've ever seen! While the group may be trying to revolt others with a scent that lingers, fans know they’re just doing it out of love. Is it a plea to win us over after a complicated start to the year? Either way, let’s cheer them on! With a beautiful acapella introducing the track’s name, a groovy bass, and a sweet reminder that DOJAEJUNG created a unique fragrance just for us, there’s just one thing wrong: we need more.

Edited by Vivian N.