Asus MD101 review

On the outside, the MD101 looks normal. Smooth, rounded edges. Clean finish. Something that would fit perfectly on the desk of someone who says things like “let’s circle back” unironically. But then there’s the fragrance capsule slot - a feature so bizarre it’s either genius or madness. Imagine telling your grandparents you spent ₹1999 on a mouse that smells like fresh linen. They’d disown you. Still, credit where it’s due. It feels light, fits nicely in the hand, and comes in colours with names that sound like artisanal coffee flavours (Quiet Blue and Oat Milk).

Here’s the shocker: it’s actually competent. With 1000 DPI, Bluetooth 5.0, and 2.4GHz wireless, it does everything a sensible mouse should. The clicks are quiet, the tracking is smooth, and the battery lasts longer than most gym memberships.Of course, if you’re a gamer, this isn’t for you. 1000 DPI will feel like trying to steer a Ferrari with the sensitivity of a tugboat. But then again, if you’re a gamer, you probably don’t want your mouse smelling like sandalwood.

This is where things get surreal. Pop in the capsule, and suddenly your desk smells faintly like you’ve sprayed a budget perfume around. It’s subtle, thankfully, but still absurd. Because while the capsule lasts three months, so does the shame of admitting you bought it.That said, it does an admirable job of covering up the scent of day-old coffee, or the office tupperware tragedy that is reheated fish curry. For that alone, it might just be a public service. 

The ASUS Fragrance Mouse MD101 is ridiculous. And yet, somehow, brilliant. It’s not going to revolutionise your workflow, but it will make your desk a little nicer to sit at - and possibly confuse everyone who catches you sniffing your mouse mid-spreadsheet.