Diving into Watery Notes

You hear a lot about “aquatic fragrances” this time of year but what does that actually mean?
It’s the height of the summer and those most fortunate who have access to the seaside, ocean, lake (or even a kiddy pool) can get a good whiff of cool, watery scents. Whether they’re briny or soft, aquatic notes are varied but are equally employed to create many modern perfumes.

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Iris - Field Trip of Dreams

When we arrived in Italy last spring we were so overwhelmed by the countless local botanicals that it inspired us to start this Scent Journal. One of the early entries was of Irises. The Iris Palida, native to the Tuscan hills surrounding Florence and legendary perfumery ingredient, grows spontaneously since before recorded history, eventually becoming the symbol of the Italian city. Now, we’ve visited a historic grower of the famed iris to learn about its cultivation and place in perfumery.

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Scent Journal - Acacia

A new sweet, soft scent sweeps across the Tuscan hills as chilly spring morphs towards warmer temps. Acacia trees, or more correctly, Robinia, grow spontaneously and abundant here. Their elegant flowers make for a graceful entrance for the more dramatically flamboyant blossoms that will soon take center stage. The conical clusters of off-white flowers dance gracefully in the sea breeze and, as they mature, land to create a fragrant petal ground cover.

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Scent Journal - Nespole (loquat)

Nespole’s white flower clusters are bewitching. They form the pinnacle of large, pointed, leathery leaves. The underside of which have a red-brown fuzz that makes the leaves look dusty. The flowers’ spicy (nutmeg, clove, allspice) scent has a complementary sweet, heady, carnal facet. It’s part of the rose family so maybe it’s the indole that adds an animalic quality and subconsciously seductive?

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