Heritage
A house, in its own words
In 2016 Elke Filpes and Christian Choi launched Moth and Rabbit in a modest Berlin studio. Their shared background in visual arts and a love for independent cinema shaped the brand’s first concept: to translate filmic emotion into perfume. The debut fragrance, released in 2019, was Clueless, a scent that captured the restless optimism of late‑1990s teen culture. The following year the duo introduced The Virgins, a composition inspired by the raw intimacy of early love, followed by Mood Indigo in 2021, a tribute to the melancholic hues of a classic French drama. By 2022 the house expanded its narrative scope with The Lobster, a scent that references the absurdist film of the same name, and in 2023 Moth and Rabbit opened a second atelier in Paris, allowing the brand to source ingredients from both German and French suppliers. 2025 marked the release of Challengers, a limited edition that paired the competitive spirit of sport with a daring aromatic structure. Throughout its first decade the brand has remained independent, avoiding large‑scale distribution in favor of curated boutique placements and direct‑to‑consumer channels. This approach has kept the creative process intimate, letting Filpes and Choi maintain hands‑on control over each scent’s development, packaging, and storytelling. Moth and Rabbit treats perfume as a storytelling tool rather than a decorative accessory. The founders believe that scent can convey the same subtext as a camera angle or a line of dialogue, so they start each project by selecting a film, a scene, or a literary moment that resonates emotionally. They then distill the chosen narrative into a palette of notes that echo the original mood. The brand values authenticity, experimental composition, and a collaborative spirit with perfumers who share a cinematic sensibility. Rather than chasing trends, the house follows a research‑first approach: it watches the source material repeatedly, notes visual textures, and translates those impressions into aromatic ingredients. This method encourages risk‑taking, such as pairing unexpected accords or using rare natural extracts alongside synthetic aromachemicals to achieve a precise emotional tone. The philosophy also includes a commitment to sustainability; the team selects responsibly harvested raw materials and works with suppliers who provide traceability reports. By grounding each fragrance in a concrete story, Moth and Rabbit aims to create a personal memory trigger for the wearer, turning everyday moments into a private screening.