In praise of imperfection
The recent arrival of the Fragrant Fables collection signalled the commencement of a new chapter, as our eleven existing Eaux de Parfum were rebottled and ‘rewritten’, with new names and accompanying fable-like poems exploring themes such as trust, resilience and authenticity. Alongside these emerged a twelfth Eau de Parfum, Unforeseen Aer, which—through a bold and unconventional combination of fresh, mineral notes—invites us to consider the value of imperfection.
Unforeseen Aer Eau de Parfum was conceived in partnership with perfumer Céline Barel, who was already the esteemed nose behind Entirely Aurner and Tacit Truths Eaux de Parfum. Céline answered a few questions about this latest collaboration, granting insight into the formulation of a fable.
A conversation with Céline Barel
How would you describe Unforeseen Aer Eau de Parfum?
Built around a fable asking, ‘How can change enrich us?’, the fragrance contrasts a weightless, highly diffusive Fabulist Accord of Pure Air with a generous, textured Radical Ingredient of Nutmeg. The result is a radiant, polished, and refined scent that feels airy and transparent, yet deeply textured, warm, and grounded on the skin. It is an exploration of the value found in moments of imperfection, and how change may enrich us when perceived flaws are welcomed, not shunned.
What was the inspiration behind Unforeseen Aer Eau de Parfum?
To answer this question olfactively, I drew inspiration from an Aesop classic: Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser. I decided to build a fougère scent where Geranium is the star ingredient, alongside Lavandin and Rosemary. I started by constructing a Pure Air Accord, focusing on a very diffusive, powerful, and transparent effect—nearly unstoppable in its projection.
How did you translate the poetic inspirations—like the question, ‘how might change enrich us?’, and the imagined aroma of Pure Air—into olfactive form?
Air is invisible, elusive, and seemingly odourless, so as a perfumer, you have to act like an illusionist, using synaesthesia to conjure its presence in the mind of the wearer. I stayed completely away from traditional marine, ozonic or synthetic salicylate notes, focusing instead on texture, weight and a crisp vegetal freshness crafted through botanical leaves. When it came to interpreting change and the golden ratio, I reflected on how true harmony in art and life isn't about rigid, stiff perfection—it’s about movement, warmth, and the beauty of imperfection. We built this pristine, weightless Fabulist Accord of Pure Air and then intentionally disrupted it with the fiery, tactile warmth of Nutmeg. That dualistic friction between pure transparency and warm texture is the exact physical embodiment of how disruption brings life and energy.
What were the most important emotions or impressions you wanted to evoke with this fragrance?
Above all, I wanted to evoke a profound, radiant freshness—not a sharp citrus or aquatic freshness, but an authentic vegetal freshness that expresses the purity of open air and elevates the mind.
I wanted the wearer to feel instantly refreshed, clean, and alluring, surrounded by a sophisticated, charismatic halo. It is an aura that fills the room and leaves an indelible imprint—something deeply elegant, poetic, and mentally restorative.
'Memory is the perfume of the soul.'
George Sand
