This is not a blue bottle 1/.2

Ivy leaf and pink pepper come first. The green is close to a freshly cut stem, and the pepper adds a light prickle rather than heat. The flowers do not replace the green so much as open through it, as if light were passing across the surface.

Lilac, lily of the valley and ylang-ylang form the heart. Lilac brings a pale, powdery violet tone; lily of the valley gives a cool, bell-like clarity; ylang-ylang adds a fuller sweetness. Lily of the valley gives the bouquet a clear outline, while ylang-ylang adds warmth alongside the softer impression of lilac.

Sandalwood, vanilla and white musk sit underneath. The dry grain of sandalwood is wrapped by vanilla and the softness of white musk, so the green flowers end in a milky calm. Its theme is light refracted through a prism into many colours. Bright leaves and flowers, supported by smooth wood and musk, give that image a fragrant form.

Wear it in daylight, with a white shirt or a pale knit. The floral sweetness stays light, moving quietly between green leaves and smooth wood. It suits the hours when light is still present rather than a deep evening.