Fantôme de Maules

Fantôme de Maules takes its setting from Maules, a village in French-speaking Switzerland. Its subject is an elusive figure who wanders the woods in camouflage and an old mask, briefly lowering his guard to pick and smell flowers. Stora Skuggan turns his unexplained identity into a fragrance about the light and shade of a forest. Tomas Hempel created the eau de parfum, released in 2015.

Galbanum and green leaves bring a vivid vegetal character, while oakmoss adds a darker, earthy texture. Bergamot and lemon suggest light filtering between leaves; forest flowers and lavender provide a softer contrast to the greenery. Dry coriander and cardamom give definition, and cedarwood with vetiver builds a framework of wood and roots. Sandalwood, labdanum and tonka bean bring roundness without making sweetness the central theme.

The clear rectangular 30mL bottle wears a large dark-green sphere with flowing patterns. Its leafy, mossy character suits moments when dry greenery feels more appealing than a sweet fragrance, from an unhurried walk to a day spent enjoying the sharper textures of plants and wood.