The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
No.10 Aboukir arrives as part of a numbered catalogue that began in 2014, the year Marie du Petit Thouars founded Maison Louis Marie in Los Angeles. The numbering system maps personal landmarks rather than olfactory families, each scent corresponds to a place, a memory, or a moment in the founder's life. Aboukir references a coastal town in Egypt along the Mediterranean, a location tied to the founder's family history through her ancestor, the French naturalist who documented Caribbean flora in 1792. This botanical lineage informs the house's commitment to transparent, clean compositions without sacrificing complexity or sensory depth.
Maison Louis Marie treats each note position as a deliberate choice rather than default convention. In No.10 Aboukir, the opening uses eucalyptus not as novelty but as functional sharpness, lemon not as generic citrus but as brightness amplifier, and nutmeg as connective warmth between top and heart. The heart pairs amber with carnation and jasmine specifically because their combined warmth and texture support each other rather than competing. The base relies on cedarwood, patchouli, and vetiver for their established ability to last, creating a drydown that remains distinct without overwhelming.
The evolution
The opening bursts with eucalyptus and lemon, creating an immediate aromatic freshness that feels both modern and grounding. The eucalyptus lends an herbal precision while the lemon lifts the top with clean citrus brightness. Nutmeg introduces warmth beneath the surface, establishing a spiced foundation as the perfume breathes. After thirty minutes, the heart opens with amber introducing its golden, resinous warmth followed by carnation delivering its characteristic spicy-floral texture. Jasmine rounds the composition with creamy white floralcy, softening the spice and creating a balanced center. The drydown settles into cedarwood, patchouli, and vetiver, three materials known for their permanence and depth. Cedarwood provides dry, woody structure while patchouli contributes earthy, organic warmth and vetiver adds smoky, mineral grounding. The result is a fragrance that evolves from crisp freshness through warm floralcy to quiet woody presence.
Cultural impact
No.10 Aboukir occupies a specific niche within the indie fragrance landscape: a warm woody that opens cold, which creates a distinctive wearing experience that divides opinion. The eucalyptus top note is polarizing, some wearers find it medicinal and expect it to fade quickly, while others recognize it as the structural anchor that makes the subsequent warmth feel earned. Community reviews suggest a loyal following among those who appreciate woody‑spicy compositions with an aromatic edge. The fragrance performs best in fall and winter, with enthusiasts noting heavier use in cooler months.
