Modalities of Scent

At the fragrance table, we have a range of perfumes in various modalities, each offering a different expression of scent. 

Our 5ml attars are the most dense scent experience being a highly concentrated pure perfume essence. They are composed of oils extracted from resins, woods, flowers, herbs, and - in our case - fynbos. The origin of attars has historical ties to India and the Middle East, and it is an age-old, revered way of appreciating scents. These oil-based perfumes are rich in their profiles, holding deep dimension and a feeling tone that is grounding; a drop on the skin can embalm one for over a day. Attars call for the skin as their canvas, becoming known and clear when given the time to reveal each fragrant layer. 

When it comes to Esprit de Parfums and Eau de Colognes, it is a matter of dilution: the technical difference comes down to the concentration of perfume essence in the alcohol base. All our perfumes are formulated using our bio-ethanol food grade alcohol derived from pure sugar cane.
Colognes have an altogether lighter profile with a briefer longevity expectation in comparison to esprits. Colognes illuminate, inviting vigor into the spirit and a sense of release - they are intended to be applied multiple times throughout the day to freshen up. They also tend to be simpler in structure.

In contrast, esprits have a greater concentration of perfume essence; these scent profiles come across as deeper and closer than a cologne. A single application of an esprit lingers throughout the day, transforming in golden collaboration with the skin. One might observe that our esprits tend to hold spicier and warmer woody layers, whereas our colognes are often fresher with higher citrus notes. While this is true, it isn’t always a defining factor when deciding which modality to formulate a perfume into. As Florian himself says, “colognes settle the nose while esprits seduce the nose.”

We offer select fragrances as both attars and esprits, such as the well-loved scents of Moon, Ka and Nefertum. We are in the process of formulating an esprit version of the sweet, sunshine scent of Miel de Rabat (coming soon!). Each fragrance, whether an oil (attar), esprit or cologne, wears and ages in a unique way which influences the decision of whether to alchemise it with an alcohol base or not.
An individual’s preference can depend on their body’s interaction with different scent densities, and simply the modality or application experience that they are most drawn to.