M+ as a collection has always been an exploration of the interplay between the natural world and the amplifying power of aroma-molecules. The natural materials used within perfumery provide the raw beauty that is then shaped, boosted, diffused, and transformed by the olfactory magic of the molecular materials. Without the precision and amplification of molecules, naturals can remain unformed, two-dimensional, lacking the depth, dimension, and lasting presence they are capable of achieving.
Molecule + is 3D perfumery in action. It is textural, multifaceted, and tactile, with complex olfactory impressions achieved through innovative simplicity. In a world where fragrances promise us more – more strength, more intensity – M+ bucks the trend, creating intricacy and presence without clutter, through fragrances that celebrate the synchronicity, contrast, and tension between two materials.
For the latest M+ experiment, perfumer Geza Schoen has opted to explore the vibrant aromatic tones of Salvia sclarea (also known as clary sage). An unconventional material that does not make for an obvious choice, clary sage is a biennial herb native to the Mediterranean known for its herbaceous, aromatic facets, which are accented by an unexpected and delightfully bright fruitiness. Clary sage boasts a unique sense of greenery, where sun-soaked herbs sparkle with elegant, vibrant freshness.
The golden thread running through the M+ collection is Escentric Molecules’ hero molecule, Iso E Super. As one of the essential building blocks of modern perfumery, Iso E Super boasts a soft and woody olfactory profile, but it’s a material that offers more than just its odour. What makes Iso E Super so unique is how it interacts with other materials – it brings a sense of expansion, prizing apart their many facets and shaping them into new, larger forms.
M+ Clary Sage brings these two materials together in one fragrance where the natural, intricate beauty found within one of the Mediterranean’s most unassuming, yet multifaceted herbs is transformed into something entirely new by perfumery’s most versatile molecule.
Olfactory surprises.
M+ Clary Sage is a fragrance filled with scented twists and turns. Initially, it surprises with an unexpected fruity quality, with a distinct impression of dewy green fruits such as pears and apples. Then, a splash of ice-cold green tea, malted and sparkling with delicate, minty nuances that hint at a more vivid sense of greenery, amplifies the sense of freshness, creating a technicolour impression.
A soft effervescence and sweet floral character offer up hints of elderflower, whilst the naturally aromatic facets of clary sage evoke a distinct sense of greenery, creating a bucolic scene of English summertime awash with sunlight and verdancy. These surprising intricacies move with subtlety, softly shimmering like the shadow of leaves dappled by the sun.
A radiant warmth.
The blanketing, woody tones of Iso E Super provide a velvety contrast to the vibrant intricacies of clary sage. It sits beneath the aromatic, citrus, and floral facets, radiating a glowing warmth that adds a sense of movement. Iso E Super acts as the warm breeze that moves through the composition, turning what was green to gold and what was fresh to rich, anchoring close to the skin like a sheer, silk fabric.
Delightful dreams of summer.
M+ Clary Sage feels like a dream of summer. Perhaps it’s an impressionist’s painting of a summer scene in pastel shades, or maybe it’s an arthouse movie with a dreamlike quality and hazy scenes peppered with lens flare. It could also be a soft and ambient electronic track that bubbles along with delicate microbeats and a vibrant bassline. Whether it feels like art, cinema, or song, M+ Clary Sage is a gentle fragrance that evokes a feeling of contentment and a sense of serenity. It is calm, breezy summer moments distilled into fragrant form, and it is inexplicably addictive.
