Molecule 01 + Cistus captures the moment of convergence between two diametric opposites: the molecular and the natural. It's a sensual rhumba with Iso E Super and Cistus as the dance partners, moving in perfect, choreographed motion, resulting in an unconventional composition that is full of surprises.
Iso E Super is a wonder material. On the surface, it's soft, woody, velvety and perfectly smooth, but deep down, it's undeniably complex, and much of its use comes from the effect it has on other materials rather than the way it smells. You see, Iso E Super has this wonderful ability to create space in a composition, working its way into the molecular gaps of other materials and prizing them apart. It's this spaciousness that makes for remarkable perfumery, where the familiar becomes new, the dense becomes expansive, and the heavy becomes lightweight.
Cistus comes from the rock rose and should not be confused with its richer and heavier cousin, Labdanum, the sticky resin extracted from the same plant. Cistus is lighter, airier, more golden. It's a material of shimmer, glitter, and breezy, sweet warmth, evoking rugged, rocky landscapes coated in endless sunshine.
A composition of just two materials may suggest simplicity, but Molecule + is an exercise in exploring the natural complexity of perfumery materials, with Iso E Super taking the lead, choreographing Cistus in soft, sensual movements, spinning and unravelling its multifaceted beauty. By creating space, the molecule prises apart the nuances of the natural, expanding them in a diffusive dance in three sequences.
Sequence one: sundried citrus and warm forest air
Molecule 01 + Cistus opens with a surprising citrus facet. There's a dewy-sweet, sparkling freshness that feels effervescent, with lively, delicate bubbles fizzing off into the air. There's also a warm, roasted quality that evokes the idea of sundried citrus fruits, followed by a flash of greenery, placing them in the centre of a humid forest, where the woody, cedar-like character of Iso E Super crafts an image of smooth, bleached bark.
Sequence two: golden amber
The warmer, more ambery tones of the Cistus come through in the second sequence, but whilst there are amber facets, this is not an amber fragrance. It is much lighter, brighter, and more expansive than that. Instead, M+ Citrus feels like a glowing orb of citrine, with a crystalline sense of transparency. There's a hint of toasted, malted sugar alluding to the sweet saps and resins of the trees, but rather than freshly harvested from the bark, they are caught on a slow, softly moving summer breeze.
Sequence three: smoke, skin and sensuality
The final sequence is distinctly human. It's the tussle of smoke and skin that creates an exciting, sensual tension. Cistus has an undeniable leather facet, with a dark depth of smoke and tar. Iso E Super, on the other hand, boasts an intimate, skin-like quality. Together, they create the sense of bodies moving in frantic, swooping motions, causing friction and electricity.
It's easy to imagine a fragrance centred on Cistus, especially one that contains such a high dosage of the material (4%) as being something dense, heavy, and indulgent, but Molecule 01 + Cistus serves as a reminder that perfumery always holds surprises. Synthetic molecules have the power to unlock hidden beauty in naturals, teasing out and expanding new facets, creating texture, movement, and excitement, all through the magic of olfactory chemistry.
So, Molecule 01 + Cistus is the exact opposite of expectations: it's lightweight, fluid, sparkling, transparent and multifaceted. It's a daring composition that amplifies the hidden levity found within the remarkable complexity of Cistus.
With one spritz, Molecule 01 + Cistus invites you to dance an unforgettable and unconventional routine.
