Love and Tears

Becker constructed Love and Tears around the emotional arc of heartbreak, translating psychological states into olfactory stages. The opening mirrors shock: crisp, green, almost cold. The heart represents the overwhelming nature of grief and memory, where florals bloom with saturated intensity before the drydown suggests the slower process of acceptance and lingering melancholy. Oakmoss and cedarwood were chosen to provide the dry, grounded quality that balances the floral heart, preventing the overall effect from becoming sweet or saccharine. Ylang-ylang and water jasmine add the exotic, slightly watery quality that distinguishes this from more conventional white florals.

The evolution

Love and Tears begins with a sharp, almost clinical response to emotional pain. Bergamot provides a brief citrus flash before galbanum and petitgrain take over, creating a green opening that feels both bracing and melancholic. The herbal quality from lavender adds to this effect, establishing a crisp, slightly medicinal atmosphere. As the top notes fade, the floral heart blooms with striking intensity. Jasmine and water jasmine saturate the wearing experience, their heady sweetness offering a moment of lush beauty after the sharp opening. The supporting florals do not simply sit quietly: lily of the valley brightens, ylang-ylang deepens, orange blossom sweetens, and narcissus adds a slightly bitter floral nuance that echoes the opening greens. This interplay creates a heart that feels alive and shifting rather than static. The drydown completes the emotional arc, oakmoss and cedarwood replacing the florals with a grounded, contemplative stillness. Styrax adds a quiet resinous warmth that feels like acceptance rather than comfort.