KNOWLEDGE IS WISDOM
 
The sequoia trees of California’s Giant Sequoia National Monument are amongst the largest and, more importantly, oldest living organisms on the earth. In some cases rising to a height of over 80 metres, they have watched over their surroundings for thousands of years, surviving countless changes taking place around them. Unsurprisingly, they have become symbols of timelessness and wisdom, taking on a totemic potency within the cultures that have developed under their immense shadows.

Although they are considerably more humble in stature, the frankincense trees of Oman are equally significant. On the one hand, they have played a vital role in the trade routes that have run through the country for millennia. On the other, they have found their way into what could be called the very soul of Oman. The frankincense resin they exude is one of the land’s most treasured products – a hallmark of its people’s generosity and openness – to the extent that it has become an image of the enduring power and sagacity of nature, not unlike the giant sequoia trees.

Renaud Salmon wanted to create a perfume that would form a tribute to a sense of permanence, profundity and erudition. What better way to express such notions, he thought, than by exploring the creative possibilities offered by the giant sequoias of California and the frankincense trees of Oman. And what better way to capture the spirit of these ancient organisms than by composing a perfume constructed almost entirely with woods.    
     

Wood notes are not at all unfamiliar in perfumery. Indeed, there are very few fragrances that do not feature them to some degree. However, scents that are almost wholly wood-based are rare, and it is only exceptionally skilled creators who can put together a perfume that is convincingly woody without coming across as mono-dimensional, predictable and bulky.

Alexis Grugeon is one such perfumer. Tasked with the challenge of realising Salmon’s vision of ancient wisdom, he used all of the most striking, most distinctive woody materials at his disposal to create Opus VXI – Timber, an olfactory homage to the perennial, knowledge-inspiring power of trees.

The first impression created by Opus XVI is of monumentality: a firm, sturdy, edifice-like expression of woods. It is clear, bold and staunchly vertical, precisely like a giant sequoia. However, within moments, the scent begins to reveal a wealth of details and nuances. The bright, woody facets of Cypress, Cardamom and Lavandin add luminosity and a sense of forward-thinking openness. Frankincense, Juniper and Fir Balsam introduce their own uniquely bracing, aromatic qualities, injecting a far-reaching, kinetic energy to proceedings: a notion of steadfast, noble attributes flowing through the ages. Finally, Palo Santo, Sandalwood, Cedarwood Vetiver and Patchouli ground the whole with their supreme, uncompromising authoritativeness: symbols of a wisdom that remains firm and is not swayed by the fickle tides of changing tastes and fashions. By the very same token, they look to the future, confident that the values they represent will always endure.

Vast, monolithic and yet never anything less than approachable, Opus XVI – Timber celebrates the most primal, most natural forms of past knowledge while keeping its optimistic sights set on the wisdom yet to be acquired in the future.    


Maturation: 2 weeks
Maceration: 3 weeks
Concentration: 25%