A Candles and Eau de Perfum were developed to emit a signature fragrance for the fashion brand Mame Kurogouchi.

The core feature of our fragrance devised for Mame Kurogouchi was the landscape of Nagano where brand designer Maiko Kurogouchi was born. Her homeland constitutes the inspiration for Kurogouchi’s creations. Sharp and cool air blows through snow-filled forests, yet homes are relaxing, warm and cozy. Kurogouchi defines her formative years in Nagano as ‘your body is warm, but your eyes are cold’. We converted this into olfactive elements by mixing mentha and juniper berry to represent the cold, chill air, and swamp paperbark to impart the sense of peace. The flicker of candle flames will recall the sense of calm when seated before a glowing fireplace.

Added to this were qualities of nobleness, ephemerality and loveliness, also underlying Mame Kurogouchi. Here we turned to another olfactive element, using flowers of fragrant eupatorium. Eupatorium is beloved of chestnut tigers, migratory butterflies with pale blue-green wings. The fragrance was then deepened by addition of aromatic woods, like agarwood and sandalwood, representing scenes from Nagano’s famous Zenko-ji temple.