Let's discover Aesop fragrances!

The French writer Colette used to say that "The search for perfume follows no path other than that of obsession". It is a tale of essential oils, patience, and the science of perfumery, a unique encounter between ingredients that passionately embrace, sealing together impressions, memories, moods, and making those who smell them fall in love. It is both a lyrical and scientific exercise that Aesop has masterfully repeated since its debut in 2005 with Marrakech, an eau de toilette inspired by the intoxicating Moroccan city containing oils of sandalwood, rose, jasmine, and neroli.

The Art of Perfume According to Aesop

Since that first fragrance, Aesop has applied to the new product category the same almost obsessive attention to detail, synonymous with quality and coolness, reserved for its facial, hair, and body care products. Inside each amber bottle is an intricate matrix of ingredients, synthesized and extracted from botanical sources, essential oils present in seeds, bark, stems, roots, and flowers of plants, sourced from the most reliable suppliers worldwide. Combined with the best contemporary technology and the established science of perfumery, this gives rise to complex formulations rich in nuances. The plus? The fragrances of the Australian brand are genderless, intended for all those who love the evocative power of perfume. They have multifaceted inspirations and stand out for their subtle, sophisticated notes, designed for greater longevity on the skin.

A Brief Guide to Aesop's Fragrances

The range of eau de parfum has evolved into a rich repertoire of aromas, known for their nuances and unconventional spirit. Making this olfactory offering even more special is the collaboration between the brand and the talented French perfumers Barnabé Fillion and Céline Barel. Barel is responsible for Tacit, which draws inspiration from traditional colognes, the culture, topography, and delicate vegetation of the Mediterranean coast, translating these inputs into fresh notes of yuzu, vetiver, and basil. The other Aesop fragrances were created by Barnabé Fillion, starting with Marrakech Intense, inspired by the evocative aromas of spices used in local dishes, the intense colors of its souks, the surrounding desert, and the warm hospitality of Moroccan traditions. Utilizing his background in botany and phytotherapy, the nose deconstructed the 2005 fragrance, creating an evolution with greater longevity on the skin, but maintaining the top notes of bergamot and neroli, the heart of jasmine, cardamom, and patchouli, and the base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and clove.

For Hwyl, Fillion thought of the ancient Japanese Hinoki forests and the lush moss gardens of temples, evoking a sense of refuge in nature through warm, woody, earthy, and sensual notes of cypress, frankincense, and vetiver. In 2020, Rōzu arrived on Aesop’s shelves, an elegant floral eau de parfum with heart notes of rose, jasmine, and guaiac wood that pays homage to the life, work, and passions of French modernist designer Charlotte Perriand. 2021 saw the release of Othertopias, a collection of unorthodox fragrances, each tied to a different liminal space: Miraceti, with its resinous and balsamic notes combined with a hint of brine, evokes a boat; Karst, thanks to fresh top notes of juniper and pink pepper, takes us to a beach where the ocean meets the land; while Erémia, with lively, green, and citrusy top notes of yuzu, grapefruit, and tomato leaf, recreates the olfactory mood of a desolate land. More recently, the collection was completed with Eidesis, Gloam, and Ouranon. The first is a woody, spicy, amber fragrance for all genders, inspired by the myth of Narcissus and Echo; the second evokes the dreamlike landscape where wakefulness gives way to imagination with its mix of orange blossom, Arabian jasmine, iris, and patchouli. Lastly, the third relies on the opulent aroma composed of incense, hay, and myrrh to evoke the serene and enigmatic majesty of a monolith. These personal perfumes correspond to a range of home fragrances that includes a trio of candles, room sprays, oil diffuser blends, and incense, as well as a botanical toilet deodorizer, a bronze incense holder, and a brass oil diffuser.

Perfume as an Immersive Experience

To try and find the right fragrance for each of us, simply enter an Aesop store, where the brand’s team is available to assist us among the many bottles arranged neatly on the orderly shelves. Another option, decidedly more immersive and experiential, is offered by Fragrance Armoire, a lacquered cabinet present in select Aesop stores worldwide. Inside, this special piece of furniture houses an infusion chamber, a glass case where customers can hang their garments and close the doors for a few minutes. During this short time, the chosen fragrance is sprayed into the air, deeply and evenly infusing the fabric. It’s a way to give customers an olfactory trace of the sensory experience they’ve had in-store, as well as to truly determine if the perfume they’re about to purchase is the right one.