Francesca Bianchi - Encounters
Intense, luxurious and mysterious: this new creation is the result of my wish to put together two different cultures, represented by two different materials: Iris and Oudh - for West and East. The sophisticated refinement of Iris butter, with its soft and mysterious powderiness, marries Oudh, a material born out of an infection of the Aquilaria trees, which then produces one of the most mesmerizing and complex odors of perfumery.
The fascination of contaminations
I 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.
I 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 Iris
The 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 Oudh
Oudh 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.
