The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Mojave was launched in 2016, with Steven Claisse composing a fragrance tied to California's Mojave desert. The name points to open country, dry heat, and the kind of clarity that arrives after the landscape seems to swallow every distraction. Abbott NYC builds its scents around specific American destinations, using place as both muse and structure. Here, the reference notes are spare and deliberate: bergamot at the top, black pepper in the heart, tobacco at the base. That three-note outline gives the desert idea its shape. It is less a thick atmospheric rendering than a flash of bright air, sun-warmed dust, and wind moving across exposed ground.
The composition's character comes from the handoff between a bright citrus opening and a dark, dry base. Bergamot brings lift and a clean, light impression, with a sparkling quality that makes the first impression feel immediate. Black pepper interrupts that brightness with a sharp, almost mineral heat, keeping the center from becoming too polished. Its dry edge adds a subtle sense of contrast as the fragrance moves away from the opening. Tobacco then changes the temperature, adding a leafy, earthy weight without making the fragrance feel heavy or smoky.
The evolution
Mojave begins with a quick lift of bergamot, almost translucent against the air. The citrus opens brightly, then quickly gives way to black pepper, bringing a dry snap and a sense of exposed space. Pepper sharpens the fragrance without flattening the bergamot, leaving a clean, lightly mineral contrast between the two. As the scent settles, tobacco enters gradually. It doesn't overpower the opening; instead, it leaves a darker, leafy trace beneath the brighter materials, like warmth held under a clear sky. On skin, the arc moves from clean and airy to grounded and faintly smoky, though the composition remains restrained rather than dense. Over time, the citrus recedes while pepper and tobacco define the drydown more clearly, creating a quiet balance of brightness, heat, and earthy weight.
Cultural impact
Mojave can be read through the contrast of its materials as much as through its name. Bergamot offers a familiar bright entry, while black pepper introduces a dry, almost mineral interruption. Tobacco then shifts the composition toward something darker and more grounded, creating a balance between freshness and weight. The result is a compact fragrance for exploration: citrus at the opening, pepper through the center, and a leafy tobacco impression as the scent settles. Its character comes from that progression, where each note changes the temperature of the one before it.
The House
Abbott New York CityAbbott NYC creates fragrances inspired by natural landscapes, each scent drawing from a specific ecological destination to evoke the sensory memory of place. The New York City-based brand was founded in 2015 by Michael B Pass and Jose Alvarez, two friends who share a passion for nature and its ability to ground the mind. Their collection includes location-specific scents spanning American geography, from the desert expanses of Mojave to the coastal shores of Crescent Beach, and mountain settings like Telluride and Big Sky. The brand operates from Brooklyn, translating personal connections to landscape into wearable fragrances that aim to capture the essence of open spaces and natural environments.
The Creator
Steven ClaisseClaisse favors a clean‑cut structure: a bright top, a clear heart and a subtle dry‑down. Citrus, green leaves and light spices dominate his openings, while heart notes often feature soft florals or aromatic herbs.
