The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
The Need to Fly takes its name from the original Mystikum formula of 1910, but this 2024 composition by Alexandre Illan is something else entirely. Built around pomelo, cannabis leaf, absinthe, and leather, it translates the brand's Weimar-era glamour into something that moves. The fragrance draws from a specific narrative, a woman who had her wings clipped and wanted them back. Not nostalgia. Not pastiche. Movement as intention, scent as storytelling.
The heart is where it gets interesting. Hemp, marjoram, and absinthe form an herbal trio that most mainstream fragrances wouldn't touch. Cannabis here isn't skunky or psychoactive, it's a clean, green material that lifts the composition without announcing itself. Marjoram adds warmth, an almost savory depth. Absinthe brings the anise-sharp bite of a green spirit that tastes like it shouldn't. Together, these three notes create an aromatic heart that reads as fresh and unconventional rather than earthy or heavy. It's the kind of combination that makes you double-check the pyramid.
The evolution
The opening hits first, pomelo's citrus brightness cuts through, gin adds that clean, almost medicinal sharpness. Blue ginger brings a subtle warmth underneath. For about thirty minutes, the top notes hold the stage. Then the handoff. The citrus fades, the herbal heart takes over, and the absinthe's anise note arrives like a cold glass of something sharp. The cannabis isn't obvious unless you know what you're looking for. That's by design. By the fourth hour, the base arrives. Leather, Haitian vetiver, patchouli. The vetiver brings a mineral coolth that balances the warmth of the leather. Patchouli adds the earth. This is what remains, smoky, woody, close to the skin, and lasting well into the evening.
Cultural impact
The Need to Fly arrives in a niche landscape where herbal and aromatic fragrances have carved out a dedicated following. The combination of gin, cannabis, and leather positions it among the more unconventional releases of 2024, the kind of fragrance that attracts wearers who want something that moves differently, smells like it has opinions, and lasts long enough to make an impression.
The House
MystikumMystikum is a German niche fragrance house founded by creative director Tomáš Ric. The brand builds on a perfume formula that dates to 1910, when the original Mystikum was created by the traditional Berlin house Scherk, one of Germany's historic perfume manufacturers. The modern collection takes its name from this century-old creation, channeling the glamour of the 1920s while speaking to contemporary sensibilities. Each fragrance draws inspiration from Czech art, architecture, and modern culture, transforming scent into wearable artistic expression.
The Creator
Alexandre IllanUnconventional note combinations are where Illan operates most comfortably. He juxtaposes sweetness against animalic warmth, delicate florals against industrial synthetics, pulling these contrasts into coherent, memorable compositions.
