The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Francis arrived in 2013 from Excelsis, with a composition credited to Frederick Hass and a brief note list that leaves plenty of room for the title to carry atmosphere. Bergamot gives the scent a clean entry, neroli adds a polished floral brightness, and sandalwood supplies a steadier frame. Together, they create a cerebral impression without becoming remote, while the spare composition keeps the personal character clear and unexplained.
Its distinctiveness comes from the clean triangle of Neroli, Bergamot, and Sandalwood. Citrus and neroli share a fresh, lightly aromatic brightness, while sandalwood pulls the composition down from polished brightness toward quiet warmth. The accord profile adds powdery, green, spicy, and woody dimensions, but the source note list remains spare. That restraint gives the three named materials room to trade the spotlight, allowing the citrus brightness, floral polish, and woody warmth to meet in a balanced composition.
The evolution
The opening arrives with bergamot's brisk citrus snap, bright and immediate. Neroli then brings a white floral handoff, softening the brightness without making it sugary. As the fragrance settles, sandalwood takes control, lending a smooth woody base that feels warmer and more grounded. The notable shift is from sparkling freshness to polished calm, with citrus receding while neroli and sandalwood become the main story. The note structure offers a clear contrast between lively citrus, gentle floral light, and smooth wood, creating a fragrance that feels composed from the first impression onward.
Cultural impact
Francis is presented through a personal name and a restrained citrus-neroli-sandalwood composition. Bergamot brings a clean, brisk brightness, neroli contributes a white floral polish, and sandalwood adds a smooth woody foundation. Together with powdery, green, spicy, and woody accord dimensions, the named notes create a measured profile that invites closer attention to the details of the blend and the interplay between its contrasting materials.
The House
ExcelsisExcelsis is a small American perfume house founded by Frederick Hass in California. Its catalogue is compact and built around expressive fragrances with literary, historical, and place-based titles, including Benedictus, The Pope's Cologne, Antigua Lyme, and Francis. Available records place the earliest Excelsis edition in 2011 and Francis in 2013. Public information about the house remains limited, so its character is best understood through this focused body of work rather than broad claims about scale or reach.
The Creator
Frederick HassThere is not enough verified information to identify Frederick Hass’s signature techniques, preferred ingredients, or habitual use of woods, florals, spices, resins, or synthetic materials. It would be equally misleading to borrow the aesthetic of Frédéric Malle, whose name ap…
