The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Malatya is a city in eastern Turkey famous for its apricots. Julien Rasquinet wanted to capture the apricot's intense, sun-drenched quality in a bottle. The problem with fruit notes is that they tend to dissipate quickly on skin. He approached this by building a structure that would anchor the apricot's brightness rather than letting it slip away unnoticed. The oud, the labdanum, and the leather play key roles in this construction, creating a foundation that gives the fruit something to play against. The result is a fragrance that juxtaposes golden fruit with shadow woods, the sun-drenched with the balsamic, each element made more vivid by its contrast.
The apricot note in this composition is sweet and golden, carrying a sun-drenched quality that makes it immediately recognizable. The oud brings a darker, resinous dimension that shifts the overall direction of the scent. Coriander and saffron add spice to the blend, giving the fruit a warm edge that keeps the composition grounded rather than letting it float away into pure sweetness. The rose appears within the heart of the fragrance, woven in rather than announced, and it blends with the sandalwood to create something creamy and floral-woody.
The evolution
The apricot opens bright and lingers in the foreground. Saffron and coriander work alongside it, supporting the fruit's presence while the composition develops. As time passes, the rose settles into the blend, tempering the coriander's sharpness and merging with the sandalwood to create a creamy, floral-woody character. Patchouli adds earthiness beneath, pulling the sillage toward woodier, more grounded territory. The base notes emerge: Cambodian oud, labdanum absolute, and leather. The apricot that opened the fragrance gradually recedes, leaving behind a warm, dark, balsamic foundation that lasts for hours on skin and remains detectable on fabric.
Cultural impact
The apricot note brings a golden sweetness to the surface of the composition, with woody depth running underneath. The combination of fruity brightness with resinous darkness creates an unusual balance that distinguishes this fragrance from more straightforward amber compositions. The apricot note stands out for its boldness and distinctive character, particularly in how it pairs with the oud and leather in the base. On certain skin types, the oud and leather combination can express a slightly animalic quality that adds to the fragrance's edge.
