Perfume's sacred origins

The word "perfume" comes from the Latin "per fumum," meaning "through smoke." This reflects the ancient practice of burning aromatic substances to communicate with the divine, a tradition that dates back to the Paleolithic era and continues to influence modern perfumery.

Divine connections in winter scents

Winter perfumes are increasingly inspired by sacred materials, such as oud, which has deep historical roots. Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Oud Velvet Mood uses oud, described as both raw and precious, in a fragrance inspired by the Dubai desert, blending it with notes of peach and osmanthus.

Respect for sacred ingredients

Perfumers like Antonin Khalife from Henry Jacques emphasize the importance of using noble versions of sacred ingredients like frankincense and myrrh. These materials, harvested in small quantities, are protected by regulations to ensure their continued availability and spiritual significance.

Religious influences on fragrance

Fragrances like Onction draw on religious traditions, using ingredients such as saffron and myrrh. In various faiths, incense and aromatic materials have played a role in rituals, from the scent of sandalwood associated with Buddha to the use of myrrh in Christian traditions.

Ink and incense in modern perfumes

At Louis Vuitton, Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud created Ink Mark, inspired by Chinese calligraphy, using white incense and sandalwood. Similarly, L'Entropiste's Ensang Noir blends incense with black ink, creating a sensory experience that evokes a love declaration written with ink and blood.

Cultural and spiritual rituals

Le Labo's fragrances like Santal 26 and Encens 9 draw from Kōdō, the Japanese art of scent, where one listens to the fragrance. Meanwhile, Sat Hari, an energy healer, uses oils and fumigation to enhance holistic well-being, emphasizing the spiritual and protective qualities of scents like oud and myrrh.