The scenes set in the Fish Market for Perfume: The Story of a Murderer were filmed in Barcelona’s historic Gothic Quarter. To create an authentic atmosphere, the production used an astonishing amount of fish and meat — two and a half tons of fish and one ton of meat — over the course of filming.
The process involved hanging and arranging these materials to resemble a bustling market scene from 18th-century France. However, the extensive use of decaying seafood and meat resulted in a pervasive, unpleasant odor that reportedly could be smelled from as far as six miles away, causing discomfort for both the cast and crew. Despite the challenging conditions, the filmmakers prioritized realism to bring the vivid world of the story to life.
The effort paid off visually, but it also left behind a lingering smell that became part of the filming experience.
