Legend has it that an apple from a tree fell on Newton’s head – and thus, the theory of universal gravitation was born. But then let’s imagine a different scene – Newton, asleep under a rose bush. And instead of an apple, a flower falls, an enormous rose, a fully scented, fleshy rose. Would he have felt it? Would he have plunged his face into the heart of the flower? And what would this mean for his theory?
This scent: A chypre! And a very precise and clear-cut formula, like something that falls on you, sudden and direct. And never leaves you. A trail of scent that holds on.
Newton, excuse us! Your Crucial Experience showed us that colors are not characteristics of objects but properties of light. We now know, thanks to you, that white light is a mixture of rays with the nuances of the rainbow. You also showed us that just because an object IS red does not mean that we see it as red. If it appears red to our visual perception, this is because, when illuminated with a white light source (for example, sunlight), its surface absorbs all the colored light rays that compose it, EXCEPT the reds.
So forgive us for taking inspiration from your Experimentum Crucis! You have been the inspiration and the source of criticism for so many. And as your theory has changed our vision of the world, we have tried to create a fragrance that will change the world.
NOTES
Top: Lychee, Apple, Cumin
Middle: Rose NeoAbsolute, Jasmin Absolute, Honey Accord
Base: Akigalawood©, Patchouli, Musk
HOW IT WEARS
Opening sweet and juicy with a concoction of lychee, apple and rose, it takes a second before you realise Experimentum Crucis isn’t quite what it seems. As it dries down, you get sweaty cumin infused honey, drizzled on a bed of akigalawood, patchouli and musk. This fragrance lasts 8+ hours on the skin and leaves a trail that will have you questioning the nature of things for the rest of the day.
LORE LOVES
The main characters in this fragrance are the rose and the cumin. The rose is plush and vivid, and the cumin is unmistakeable and savoury, perfectly counteracting the “prettiness” of the rose and the sweet fruits. This fragrance reminds us of a couple of the Penhaligon’s roses, maybe because it has a bit of an old-world aristocratic feel about it.
ABOUT THE BRAND
Founded by Etienne de Swardt in 2006, Etat Libre d’Orange is an ambitious, audacious perfume house. Its name meaning “Free Orange State” in French, this is a house with an emphasis on originality, audacity, authenticity and freedom of expression. Each of Etat Libre d’Orange’s offerings is uncompromisingly surprising and knows no constraints in terms of creativity nor raw materials.
A perfumer for LVMH for many years before going rogue, Etienne de Swardt founded Etat Libre d’Orange with a view to turn the commercial fragrance industry on its head. Its launch certainly made waves, not only due to the raunchy fragrance names, but for the compositions themselves.
Read any review of Etat Libre d’Orange online and you will see a wide range of opinions, from disgusted to delighted, from aroused to inspired. We are obsessed with the daring whimsy of this fragrance house and so excited to have it at Lore!
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