Old Garden Notes: The Scent of Forgotten Places
Old gardens possess a unique magic, an atmosphere imbued with the scent of something forgotten, wild, and timeless. These neglected spaces, left to grow untamed, often feel almost sacred, their crumbling walls, overgrown flowers, and bending trees creating a mysterious ambiance. It is as if the plants conspire with each other, and you, the observer, are an outsider in this realm. In such places, a wild variety of plants thrive, where climbing roses twist into moss-covered sculptures, shaded by willow trees beside dark, green ponds where water lilies almost whisper to one another. Perhaps there is an old beehive, or the earliest tulips blooming in spring, with wild plants creeping in from the surrounding forest…
A study in scent, Orgeval Garden is inspired by Paul Strand’s final photographic work, The Garden at Orgeval. In his later years, as the world around him slowed and contracted, Strand turned his lens toward the garden outside his window. There, he found a quiet poetry in stillness, texture, and the overlooked. This perfume reflects that same act of close attention, the kind that transforms the ordinary into something timeless.
The scent opens with the gentle brightness of pear and bitter orange leaf, evoking a fleeting impression of light and fruit. Rose centifolia and orris root follow, soft yet structured, like faded petals captured at the edge of change. A heart of raspberry, clove bud absolute, and cardamom adds warmth and rhythm, echoing the garden’s subtle transformations. As the composition deepens, resin of liquidambar introduces a textured, dusk-like richness.
Orgeval Garden is a nostalgic scent, rooted in presence. It captures the richness of life when seen up close, with patience and care. Like Strand’s photographs, it invites you to pause, to return to the moment, and to find beauty in what is often left behind.
NEW: Immensité Bleue
The "blue immensity," a "vase of sadness," a nocturnal poem by Baudelaire, an evocation of the shadow archetype as described by Jung: the darker, unknown, and fragile aspects of the self. Immensité Bleue draws from these depths, a sensory reflection of mystery and vulnerability. Powdery and mossy, shimmering with a subtle blue-green iridescence, it captures the elusive feeling of wandering through twilight spaces within. Juniper berry and black pepper create a crisp, windswept opening, while verbena and basil add a flicker of brightness amid the shade. A base of sweet amber, sacred resins, and moss anchors the scent in the quiet hush of introspection, inviting the wearer into a contemplative, dreamlike reverie.
Edition 04: Nocturnal Musk
A shadowed, feral musk steeped in root and resin. Lavender and artemisia flicker like cool breath in the dark, while patchouli, cocoa, and labdanum coil into damp earth and skin-warmed leather. Oakmoss anchors it in stillness: animalic, arcane, and softly unclean.
The perfume is a journey through the liminal forest of the self, where clarity brushes against shadow, and nature becomes a mirror to the psyche’s deeper layers. Inspired by the threshold between healing and haunting, it blends luminous botanicals with earthy, animalic depth. It speaks to the paradox of being both rooted and restless, held by nature yet drawn inward to the darker soil of emotion and instinct.
Final Batch: Sonnet 98
A fresh and gently complex scent that reflects on themes of time, change, aging, and desire. Sonnet 98 brings together crisp herbs and bright citrus to create a composition that feels both grounded and quietly invigorating.
Red mandarin and may chang give the opening a light, lemony brightness. Ginger adds warmth and a soft bite, while sage and thyme offer an earthy, slightly dry herbal character. Lavender and geranium introduce a subtle floral nuance, balancing the freshness with depth and calm.
The overall impression is clean, aromatic, and slightly nostalgic, an evolving scent that moves through moments of clarity, warmth, and reflection. It captures the rhythms of life and the quiet tension between what passes and what lingers.
