The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Amélie Jacquin approached the myrrh brief with purpose. The resin, often relegated to supporting roles in perfumery, was asked to carry a fragrance on its own. Not as an accent. Not as a whisper in the background. Rock the Myrrh, the 2022 release, positioned the note as the central element of the composition. The fragrance was developed as part of a broader collection where each scent explored contrasts within its structure. Jacquin created a myrrh that could stand confidently alongside the brand's bold aesthetic, balancing the aromatic intensity with the house's distinctive visual and material sensibilities. The resulting fragrance brings warmth and depth without compromise, inviting wearers into a sensory space that feels both contemporary and rooted in something timeless.
The real trick is in how Rock the Myrrh moves. That bright cypress opening gives way to something entirely different, warm, dark, almost sticky with resin. The suede isn't decoration, it's structural. It keeps the myrrh and benzoin from blooming outward, forces everything to stay close to the skin where it develops slowly. The patchouli adds an earthy counterpoint that prevents the whole thing from tipping into sweetness. It's a composition designed for people who know that restraint takes more confidence than excess.
The evolution
The opening hits cool and sharp. Pink pepper berries crackle against the clean bitterness of cypress needles. This phase doesn't linger. Within the first hour, the cypress softens and the myrrh arrives. At first it reads on certain skin types, the way myrrh does. Then something shifts. The resin warms. The patchouli deepens. What seemed sharp becomes sticky, sweet, rich with an almost caramelized warmth. The drydown belongs to the suede. It wraps around everything, the myrrh, the benzoin's sweetness, the labdanum's resin, and wears it close. This is not a fragrance that announces from across the room. It lingers on skin, intimate and warm, revealing itself in waves to anyone who leans in.
Cultural impact
Rock the Myrrh reads as one of the darkest, most resinous fragrances in the Dries Van Noten Art of Contrast collection. Reviewers note its indulgent and potent character, describing it as the heavy hitter among the line's releases. Community ratings for both scent quality and longevity are strong, suggesting the fragrance found its audience among people who already knew what they were looking for. The appeal lies in its ability to deliver warmth without sweetness, resin without cliché, drawing wearers who appreciate intensity without the expected oriental references.
