The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Launched in 2025 by AENTOS, Grounded 坤元 was created by perfumer Maxime Exler as a study in rootedness, emotional depth, and reverence for nature. The name pairs the English Grounded with 坤元, bringing a contemporary Chinese perspective into the frame. The composition begins in brightness and gradually gathers weight: mandarin orange, grapefruit, lemon, cardamom, cumin, and pine create a crisp, airy opening, while orange blossom and cedarwood soften the sharper citrus facets. As the fragrance settles, frankincense, incense, cypriol, guaiac wood, patchouli, ambergris, and amber shape a warm, resinous drydown. The interplay leaves less a sequence of distinct notes than a continuous impression, moving between airy freshness, dry wood, earth, and glowing warmth.
The unusual part is the handoff between materials that seem to belong to different rooms. Mandarin orange, grapefruit, lemon, cardamom, cumin, and pine make the first impression lucid and energized. Orange blossom and cedarwood introduce a softer, aromatic middle, while frankincense and cypriol pull the scent toward smoke and dry wood. Guaiac wood, patchouli, ambergris, incense, and amber then give it a lasting earthen body. The composition keeps changing temperature, moving from citrus brightness to resin warmth without losing its sense of place.
The evolution
At first, Grounded 坤元 is almost kinetic. Mandarin orange and grapefruit cut through lemon, with cardamom and cumin adding a clean, peppery flicker. Pine gives the opening a cool, forested edge, like air moving through trees before the city has fully woken. That brightness softens into orange blossom and cedarwood, then darkens as frankincense, incense, and cypriol take over. The drydown settles close to the skin: guaiac wood and patchouli bring an earthy grip, while ambergris, incense, and amber leave a warm, resinous trail. As the citrus recedes, the woods become clearer, with cedarwood lending a dry structure and guaiac wood adding a deeper, rounded warmth. Patchouli reinforces the earthy character without becoming the only focus, while frankincense and incense give the composition a softly burning quality. Ambergris and amber smooth the later notes into a subtle skin-like warmth.
Cultural impact
Grounded 坤元 places Chinese references to earth and incense beside contemporary woody perfumery. Its composition is exploratory without relying on loudness: mandarin orange, grapefruit, lemon, cardamom, cumin, and pine create a lifted opening, while orange blossom and cedarwood guide the fragrance toward a darker center. Frankincense, incense, cypriol, guaiac wood, patchouli, ambergris, and amber then build a layered drydown shaped by dry wood, earth, and resinous warmth. This contrast makes room for both freshness and depth, inviting attention to how the notes change in relation to one another.
The House
AENTOSFounded in Shanghai, AENTOS is a contemporary fragrance house shaped by nature, Chinese olfactory culture and the idea of slowing down. Its wood-based scents extend across perfume and lifestyle formats, giving the brand a distinct identity that connects personal scent rituals with the home. Recent releases include Shēng 不息, Solum 土也, La Racine Sous Peau 肌下之根, Caché 枝节光, Nul 空境 and Grounded 坤元, all issued in 2025. Independent coverage from Baroma and the Asia Perfume Show has also placed AENTOS within China’s newer independent fragrance movement, with particular attention given to its forest-inspired compositions and Chinese scent references.
The Creator
Maxime ExlerExler's compositions favor bold oriental structures with resinous depth. His signature materials include oud, cypriol, and musk, often supported by birch and saffron.
