The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Yeats by Aromag 岩兰 launched in 2021 with Olivier Cresp as the perfumer behind it. The composition pairs a sparkling top of bergamot, petitgrain and calamus with a heart of pine needles, orange blossom, rose and tuberose, then settles into cabreuva wood, guaiac wood and patchouli. Bergamot and petitgrain lend brightness, while calamus adds a lightly aromatic edge. Pine needles sharpen the opening, and orange blossom, rose and tuberose soften it with floral warmth. As the fragrance develops, cabreuva wood and guaiac wood bring a dry, woody structure, while patchouli gives the base a deeper green character. The result moves between citrus brightness, resinous greenery, floral warmth and close woody texture, changing subtly as it wears on skin.
The unusual part is the collision of materials most people keep in separate mental drawers. Bergamot and petitgrain bring a bitter, leafy citrus edge, while calamus adds something grassy and slightly strange beneath it. Pine needles then take over with a cold, resinous green. Orange blossom and rose soften that forest floor with white floral warmth, and tuberose gives the heart a creamy, almost tuberous weight. The base is all wood and earth, which is where the composition turns from refreshing into contemplative.
The evolution
The opening is the most obvious moment. Bitter bergamot and green petitgrain arrive fast, sharpened by the aromatic bite of calamus, and for the first several minutes it reads as a citrus cologne with a strange edge. Then pine needles surface, cooling everything slightly, and the white floral heart arrives to take the chill out of the air. Rose and tuberose give it a fleshy, almost powdered softness that sits oddly well against the conifer green. Over the next few hours the florals recede and the woods take over. Cabreuva and guaiac turn dry and polished, patchouli settles in close and earthy, and what lingers on skin is a quiet woody finish with just enough citrus memory still hanging around the edges.
Cultural impact
Yeats arrived in 2021 from a house rooted in Shanghai, with a focus on Far Eastern cultural and atmospheric aesthetics. Its pine-and-citrus profile offers a distinctive way to experience that sensibility: bright bergamot and petitgrain meet the sharper green character of pine needles and calamus, while orange blossom, rose and tuberose add a more tender floral register. The woody base of cabreuva wood, guaiac wood and patchouli gives the composition depth without overwhelming its opening brightness.
The House
Aromag 岩兰Aromag (岩兰) stands as China's first independent high-end fragrance house, founded in Shanghai in 2017. The name merges 'aroma' with 'magazine,' nodding to China's scholarly perfume heritage. The brand translates its tagline '馥喻东方' as 'the art of oriental perfumery,' positioning itself at the intersection of cultural authenticity and contemporary luxury. Aromag creates gender-neutral fine fragrances inspired by Chinese cultural origins and aesthetic preferences, inviting those familiar with Eastern culture to experience scents reimagined through a distinctly modern lens. Each fragrance tells a story rooted in oriental sensibility, making Aromag a pioneer in defining contemporary Chinese perfumery.
The Creator
Olivier CrespCresp's signature style often features a blend of fresh, clean notes with warm, comforting accords. He's known for his masterful use of fruit notes, particularly fig and berries, which he often combines with florals and musks to create scents that are both inviting and sophist…
