The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Natura's Ekos line put storax front and center in this 2021 release. Perfumers Cláudio de Deus and Verônica Kato built outward from there: green notes and citrus for brightness, lavender for aromatic depth, a powdery floral heart to soften the structure, then cedar and sandalwood to ground it all. The name says exactly what's inside. The fragrance opens with a crisp citrus burst that feels like morning light, then settles into an herbal quality as the lavender and green notes emerge. The powdery floral heart adds a soft, rounded quality that bridges the fresh top notes to the warmer base. Cedar and sandalwood provide a creamy, woody foundation that gives the scent its lasting character. It's a composition that moves from brightness to depth, with each layer complementing the others.
What makes this structure interesting is the anise-storax pairing in the top and heart. Anise brings a slight licorice sharpness that keeps the green and citrus from reading as generic. Storax, resinous, slightly balsamic, adds body without heaviness. The two notes create an aromatic complexity that separates this from straightforward green-citrus fragrances. Add the powdery floral heart (lily of the valley, violet, rose), and you've got a composition that moves through three distinct phases without ever losing coherence.
The evolution
The opening is bright and immediate. Bergamot, lemon, and mandarin orange hit first, cutting through with a crisp citrus quality. Green notes and lavender arrive alongside, turning the air herbal. The anise shows up here too, a slight spice that either hooks you or puts you off. The heart takes over as the initial brightness softens: geranium and lily of the valley easing the sharpness, violet and rose adding powdery softness. The styrax begins to warm the composition. The base arrives next. Cedar and sandalwood form the woody foundation. Musk and benzoin add warmth. Amber and coumarin give a faint sweetness, almost hay-like. The drydown stays close to the skin, lingering near you rather than projecting outward. The cedar and musk quietly fade over time, leaving a subtle trace.
Cultural impact
Ekos Estoraque 2021 occupies a specific niche: green-citrus with powdery florals and warm woods. It's the kind of fragrance that works across seasons but performs best in transitional weather, cool mornings warming into mild afternoons. The lavender and powdery floral heart give it a softness that appeals to people who want freshness without sharpness. The warm drydown makes it suitable for evening wear while the green-citrus opening keeps it light enough for daytime. The composition balances freshness with warmth through its green-citrus top notes that give way to powdery florals in the heart, grounded by woody base notes.
