‘Aurner is a nonconformist floral fragrance that embodies striking contrasts — fragility versus strength, freshness versus warmth, and femininity versus masculinity. Envisioned by Aesop’s long-term collaborator Céline Barel, it redefines floral scents with an interplay of delicate blooms and rich woods, crafting a scent that is both bold and complex. The name “Aurner,” derived from an Old Norse verb meaning “to be adorned with flowers,” reflects how the fragrance envelops the skin in an emboldening blend of aromas.
Blending unexpected elements, Aurner introduces rousing spice, metallic notes, and herbaceous depths, anchored by a resonant floral heart rooted in sumptuous woods. Key ingredients include Magnolia Leaf, Roman Chamomile, and Cedar Heart, lending the scent a nuanced luminosity. Described by Barel as “complex, bright, somehow tea-like,” Aurner is an evolutionary step in Aesop’s aromatic world, designed to challenge traditional notions of floral fragrances.
To illustrate its unique olfactive contrasts, Aesop’s creative team devised a narrative that unfolds through still and motion imagery. It begins in a florist’s shop, where a visitor seeks something unconventional. Guided by a mysterious figure through a hidden door, they enter a world beyond — a space filled with amber jars and olfactive apparatus, where Aurner’s essence takes form.
This transformation is symbolized through a necklace by Patcharavipa, which is heated and submerged in water, sizzling with defiance. The visitor finally wears the necklace, mirroring how Aurner rests against the pulse points — a floral provocation that subverts expectations and redefines the essence of a bloom.
Magnolia: A Resonant Reinterpretation
Central to this shift in perspective is the use of Magnolia Leaf – rather than flower petal – Aurner Eau de Parfum delivers an alternative expression of the bloom. Its lingering herbaceousness blends with lead notes of Roman Chamomile and Cedar Heart for a deeply provocative aroma that challenges traditional expectations of a floral being merely delicate or decorous.
Aurner opens with lustrous brightness. Radiant citrus notes are underscored by green, fresh spices of Cardamom, and Pink Pepper, enriched by Roman Chamomile – a prelude to its floral intensity, with an unexpected metallic aspect. The initial freshness finds form in a resolutely nuanced floral heart. Magnolia Leaf’s luminous aromatic quality is embellished with notes of Geranium while the warm spice of Cardamom hints at wooded depths yet to unfold. Aurner’s floriferous force resounds with a richly textured, woody base. Sandalwood, Cypriol Heart and Cedar Heart ground the fragrance, anchoring its intensity.
An Aroma Made Material
This striking floral form takes a key role in the visual expression of Aurner Eau de Parfum, its sheening lustre also echoing the metallic facets of Roman Chamomile in the scent. For the first time, a limited-edition jewellery will be sold at selected Aesop stores globally.
Multisensory evocations of the Eau de Parfum will allow its defiant nature to bloom – including Aesop’s first ever jewellery collaboration with Patcharavipa Bodiratnangkura, a Bangkok-based fine jewellery designer. Her practice melds traditional Thai craftsmanship with the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which centres on ideas of transience and imperfection, for pieces that balance aesthetic audacity and the delicate handling of materiality and texture. For Aurner, Patcharavipa materialised the emotive tensions within the aroma with a jewellery piece that is delicate in form, yet unyielding in materiality.
In collaboration, Patcharavipa created a limited-edition ear cuff inspired by the defiant bloom, with just 200 Aurner Ear Cuffs available in selected locations across the globe. Handcrafted from Rhodium-plated 925 Sterling Silver by a team of artisans who have learnt their skills through generational guidance – a rarity even in the world of fine jewellery – the pride of exceptional Thai workmanship found at the studio shines through in every piece.
Patcharavipa says of the design: ‘I have always seen the magnolia as a symbol of power and purity. When one thinks about designs derived from florals, one might often think of something feminine or overtly sweet. I see florals differently. I see them as something very sculptural, very strong, and naturally perfect.
Aesop Aurner Eau de Parfum will be available at Aesop signature stores and online from 10th February 2025.
From 17th – 23rd February 2025, Aesop Malaysia extends the latest aroma with an unconventional floral shop at Aesop One Utama signature store; enhancing Malaysian consumers’ multi-sensory experience with the new parfum.
