The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Horse is composed by Jasmine Liu for DOCUMENTS 闻献's Chinese Zodiac series, a limited edition connected to the Year of the Horse. Its character comes through in the composition, where hay and pine tar establish a rural, elemental edge before sea buckthorn cuts across them with tart brightness. The materials move between dry vegetation, dark resin, and sharp fruit, creating a fragrance that feels direct and emblematic rather than ornamental. Hay gives the opening a warm, dusty quality, pine tar adds weight and a smoky depth, and sea buckthorn introduces a crisp, tangy accent. Together, they shape a composition marked by forward movement, earthy warmth, and a polished finish.
What makes Horse distinctive is the friction between its materials. Pine tar smells resinous, dark, and close to smoke, yet the fruit notes keep the composition from collapsing into uniform heaviness. Sea buckthorn brings a sharp, acidic lift, while apricot introduces a rounded, lactonic softness. Jasmine and osmanthus add floral air without turning the composition delicate. Below them, patchouli, sandalwood, and vetiver anchor the scent with earth and wood, giving the brighter opening somewhere substantial to land.
The evolution
The opening moves quickly between three contrasting textures: dry hay, dark pine tar, and the tart snap of sea buckthorn. Smoke arrives with an almost leathery weight, but fruit keeps it alive. As those notes recede, apricot softens the composition with a pulpy warmth, while jasmine and osmanthus introduce a clean floral handoff that feels brighter than expected. The base then takes over. Patchouli brings damp soil, sandalwood adds polished cream and wood, and vetiver pulls everything toward a dry, grassy edge. The result settles into a smoky leather-like impression rather than disappearing. As the fragrance wears, the initial brightness gives way to warmer layers of apricot, floral softness, and smoky wood. The pine tar remains a dark thread through the composition, while patchouli and vetiver deepen its earthy character.
Cultural impact
Horse places a familiar zodiac symbol within DOCUMENTS 闻献's Chinese Zodiac series, connecting the fragrance to a widely recognized cultural motif. The composition gives that association a sensory form through hay, pine tar, sea buckthorn, apricot, jasmine, osmanthus, patchouli, sandalwood, and vetiver. Its appeal lies in the tension between contrasting materials: dry and smoky notes meet tart fruit, soft florals, creamy wood, and earthy base accords. Horse becomes an invitation to explore the zodiac theme through scent rather than through a literal representation.
The House
DOCUMENTS 闻献DOCUMENTS 闻献 is a niche Chinese fragrance house that emerged from Shanghai’s creative‑tech scene in the early 2020s. The brand translates the concept of “BOLD‑ZEN” into scent, material, and visual language, offering a line of perfumes that reference traditional incense, calligraphy and contemporary design. Its catalogue includes releases such as Wonder 羁旅归途 (2020), Void 空无一木 (2020) and the newer Inter Cedar 杉间 Eau de Parfum (2025). While the company’s legal entity was registered in 2021, public editions began appearing in 2025 and have continued through 2026. DOCUMENTS operates flagship concept spaces, most notably the Long Temple (珑宫) venue in Shanghai, where the brand’s olfactory and spatial ideas intersect. The house collaborates with Chinese incense makers and international aroma houses, positioning each fragrance as a quiet dialogue between heritage and modernity.
The Creator
Jasmine LiuLiu gravitates toward structural compositions that balance tradition with contemporary sensibility. Her Chinese heritage surfaces in her use of locally sourced materials and culturally resonant accords.
