The fascination of contaminationsI have always been fascinated by contaminations from different cultures, giving birth to new forms – called syncretistic, eclectic: to me, a new deviant marvel.I remember my enchantment for the exotic and mysterious Pseudo-Arabic scripts in the halos of some Renaissance painting focused on a quintessential character of Christian culture and yet contaminated by a reference to the Arabic culture.Or the incredible syncretistic forms such as Greek or Roman temples transformed into Christian Churches, or the Indo-Islamic architecture, merging two cultures in a new language. Encounters, the fragranceI wished to render this obsession of mine with Encounters, thanks to a combination of two iconic ingredients from East and West, Iris and Oudh – a moment of contact from whom a new creature originates.You will find the sophisticated refinement of Iris butter, with its soft and mysterious powderiness; a material which develops in the soil to then generate the most lyric among flowers.And you’ll find Oudh, a material born out of an infection of the Aquilaria trees, which then produces one of the most mesmerising and complex odor in the perfumery range of ingredients. Iconic material: Iris ButterThe Iris is an iconic flower in the Western culture. It is the symbol of the city of Florence – in the countryside of whom one of the most important areas for the cultivation of this flower has developed.The Fleur de Lys has also been a symbol for the French Kings since the 12th century.And countless times you can find iris in paintings throughout Western History. Iconic material: OudhOudh is an iconic ingredient of Eastern culture due to its crucial significance. Derived from an infection of the Aquilaria tree, it’s native to South and South-east Asia, and parts of the Middle East.Used for spiritual and religious purposes, it is believed to help elevate the spirit and create a sense of calm and connection to the Divine.Considered one of the most precious material in perfumery for its intense and complex aroma, it’s woody with leathery, animalic and smoky facets.
