Autumn 21

We are standing by a sun-dazzled estuary, looking out across the water meadows. The shallows are shining silver and the ancient woodlands that run down to the water’s edge are scorched with gold. The sky is a haze of blue and now and then we catch a hint of coast, carried on the gentlest breeze.

The air, on this late September afternoon in Ruan Lanihorne, Cornwall, swells with the scent of early autumn: the earthiness of the woodland floor, the sweetness of the meadow grasses and the freshness of the sea. It is a scent memory, rich and complex, to which we have returned again and again. For Autumn 21, we have sought to bring it to life.

First to the woods and the dense tapestry of sylvan notes. In recreating this we looked to oakmoss and vetiver, earthy and green, and the woody, resinous facet of cedar. To add depth, we layered patchouli with myrrh - both warm and darkly sweet.

Ruan Lanihorne is a place through which water flows. It is where the Ruan River meets the Fal and, at high tide, where the sea runs inland. The water here has a distinctive timbre, at once brackish, clear and crisp. After many iterations we found it through an accord of seaweed, cardamom and lemon.

The water meadow was perhaps the hardest element of all. The end of summer had carried with it many of the wildflowers but the outlines of irises remained, hidden amongst the grasses. Warmed by the sun, these grasses seemed to echo the heady aroma of a summer’s day and so we chose to weave them into the fragrance itself - returning to the hay absolute of Summer 21 and marrying it with the sweet, herbaceous notes of hyssop, clary sage, tarragon and coriander seed.

Autumn 21 has become a journey through scent, to a singular moment, belonging to a certain place. We very much hope that we have been able to take you there with us and, as ever, look forward to hearing your thoughts.