Old but Gold

Here we reflect on the three traditional themes in perfumery: fougère, chypre and amber. These are ‘old’ but golden formulas that act as the central pillars of the perfume world. Formulas which we can’t help but revisit, interpret, modify and update. This pack tours these three families of fragrance - eternally loved and universally explored.

The term "fougère," meaning "fern" in French, conjures a forest floor, a carpet of moss, resinous pine needles and bracken. They are rooted in lavender, oakmoss, and hay, yielding a green, herbal and musky sweet scent. Current interpretations regularly feature bergamot, geranium, and vetiver. We are forever drawn to fougeres for their embodiment of freshness while imbuing us with a masculine elegance and solid sophistication.

Describing a chypre is akin to capturing a mood—an elusive and enigmatic perfume family that defines abstract fragrance and inspires experimentation. Chypre has classic formulations of oakmoss, labdanum, and patchouli which meet sweet citruses with decadent florals or refined woods. They balance freshness and warmth with an urban and assertive edge. We love them for their film noir elegance, diffusive wisdom and sultry sexiness.

A traditional amber will feature labdanum, patchouli, vanilla, benzoin, and precious resins, sometimes with spices. Its origin is shrouded in history, likely stemming from a confusion between amber resin, incense, and ambergris coprolite. Perfumers embrace this ambiguity, crafting diverse ambers with variations on the original accords showcasing the ever-changing nature of this complex olfactory experience. Ambers are cherished for their luminosity, glamour and magical warmth.

This collection includes the eponymous classics from each family while also highlighting the ways perfumers have taken artistic license to reimagine and experiment with the origins.