The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
White Wood began as a departure. Most Balma Venitia fragrances carry a cannabis accord, it's the house signature, the conversation starter, the thing that makes people lean in. Marie Duchêne, working with designer Thierry Lemahieu, chose a different direction for this 2023 release. The result is the only fragrance in the lineup without cannabis, which makes it both the outlier and the gateway. It captures the house aesthetic, artistic, unhurried, Mediterranean, without the provocative material that defines the rest. The composition presents clean lines and a restrained elegance that sets it apart from its siblings, offering a fresh perspective on what the house can achieve.
What makes White Wood interesting isn't what it includes but how the materials interact. The fig tree note runs through the entire composition rather than appearing only in one phase, it opens green from the leaf, deepens into the wood in the heart, and lingers in the drydown as a warm, slightly sweet backdrop. Paired with sandalwood's creaminess and patchouli's earth, the fig tree creates something that feels both structured and soft.
The evolution
The opening hits bright and green, fig leaf that smells like you've just crushed a stem between your fingers. The apricot and pear arrive quickly, soft stone fruit sweetness that tempers the green without killing it. The sandalwood then joins the composition, and the fragrance shifts from bright to warm. The heart is where White Wood earns its name: creamy sandalwood, earthy patchouli, and the wood of the fig tree itself, all blending into something that feels sun-warmed and certain. By hour three, the tonka bean and white musk take over, and the fragrance settles into a powdery, warm drydown that stays close to the skin for hours. The sillage remains moderate throughout, intimate rather than announcing itself, with the warm woods and soft fruit notes lingering in a way that invites someone standing nearby to lean in and discover what's wearing.
Cultural impact
White Wood stands out as a deliberate choice within the landscape of independent perfume houses. By stepping away from the cannabis accord that defines much of the house's identity, this fragrance demonstrates a willingness to explore familiar materials in unexpected ways. The house shows that its creative voice isn't limited to a single signature ingredient, and the fig-forward approach offers something that feels both grounded and distinctive. This isn't about pivoting away from identity but expanding it, proving that artistic vision can find expression through multiple materials and approaches.
