12 | Design & Perfume

Of Gestures & Materials
Torn between its artistic, artisanal, commercial and technical dimensions, between the rational and the emotional... And what if perfume were considered, first and foremost, as a piece of design?

Nez is an invitation to explore the world through our olfactory sensations, adopting a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses art, literature, photography, science, history, gastronomy and, of course, perfumery, providing its readers with a better understanding of the essential role the sense of smell plays in our lives.

In Nez's fifth 1+1 pairing, Issue 12 is coupled with the newest NEZ limited edition fragrance, Le Lac, a collaboration between perfumer Annick Menardo and dancer/choreographer, Angelin Preljocaj.

Pas de deux
"When I saw Angelin Preljocaj perform Swan Lake at the Palais de Chaillot last June, I immediately wanted to recreate the atmosphere with an interpretative composition—smell rather than perfume. The skyscrapers in the background gave me a very urban feel, and I started out with the idea of what the lake might be if it were in New York. An overdose of ozone molecules suggests fresh water, so chlorinated that it becomes hard, but also the ozone layer under attack. Naphthalene and petroleum facets encapsulate the industrial aspect, reinforced by the cold and metallic bite of aldehydes, the tar recalls oiled birds. This very dark character, reminiscent of an ecological disaster, is nevertheless softened with a note of hope: I used eucalyptus, mint, pine for their fresh and aromatic nuances, which provide a beneficial and more optimistic naturalness." – Annick Menardo, Perfumer

Notes: eucalyptus, mint, pine, fresh water, chlorine, ozone, naphthalene, petroleum, aldehydes, tar.

Published Dec. 2021
English Only
160 Pages

Nez 12 magazine, Le Lac perfume and samples are also sold separately.