A scent of new beginnings – towards new horizons, with a focus on the future.
Suddenly, everything is different. Plans, resolutions, everyday life and social interaction lose their rhythm. Rethinking and change are called for. And a spirit that inspires this. What could it smell like? Aedes de Venustas 16a Orchard embodies the moment of renewal. It is an eau de parfum that allows everyone who wears it to reflect on their true self and their natural roots.
It was both a commission and a mission to mark the relocation of Aedes Perfumery to 16 Orchard Street in New York City's ‘Lower’ Lower East Side with a fitting perfume. With a fragrance that captures the crackling energy of the new, vibrant neighbourhood with its galleries, cafés, small, fine shops and its hip, diverse, skateboarding residents and visitors, and – as soon as it is applied – acts as a catalyst to dare to try something new. In 2021, Robert Gerstner and Karl Bradl, the founders of Aedes de Venustas, brought this idea to life. ‘Everyone has gone through a period of total upheaval in their lives,’ says Gerstner. ’In the crisis of recent years, we have found a new home here, in a neighbourhood that reflects the change and fluctuation of New York City. Quite unconsciously, we have done something that is of great significance.’
So it's not a fragrance, but a lifestyle. Something that is deeply rooted and is being brought back to life. ‘My goal was to create a simple fragrance structure that is good for the soul and conveys a sense of well-being,’ says perfumer Frank Voelkl. ‘Ingredients extracted from natural roots such as ginger and iris help to focus the mind on the essentials and ground you. Nevertheless, 16A Orchard Street cannot be understood as a single note or fragrance category; the scent carries a kind of mystery within it. ‘You don't really know what to make of it – and that's what makes it so exciting,’ says Gerstner. ‘You can't point your finger at it and say, “That's the scent of the Lower East Side”. It doesn't work like that. It encourages reflection and living – and thinking outside the box.’
Perfumer Frank Voelkl succeeds in removing the heaviness from earthy materials, making them airy and light. Ginger raises questions and disrupts the natural balance. The cool but delicate aspects of iris ground the fragrance. Quince and lily of the valley give volume to the root notes. A dry cedarwood note and the cashmere-like hint of tonka beans combine to create a spicy, dry fragrance that is rounded off with bergamot, lemon, cardamom and jasmine.
Aedes de Venustas 16a Orchard is presented in a high-quality, sophisticated bottle: Peacock blue accents mark the ribbed bottle. Its cap is matt black and embossed with the brand's insignia. It is a harmoniously smooth yet powerful and striking design with which Aedes de Venustas begins the next chapter in its success story.
As Gerstner says, every specific fragrance has its specific purpose. 16a Orchard is intended for that moment when you feel: I can be who I want to be. I am authentic, whatever I plan to do. ‘This eau de parfum emphasises the change that is right for you and right for the moment,’ says Gerstner. ‘That's what fascinates me most about it.’
