The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
As Above So Below was born from a collaboration with multimedia artist Bunny Rogers, released in 2019 by Régime des Fleurs. The project invited perfumer Mark Sage to translate an artistic vision into scent. Working with geosmin as a central material, Sage created something that challenges conventional expectations of what a fragrance should be. The composition draws on earth, herbs, and subtle floral elements to build a scent that feels both ancient and entirely modern. The interplay of mineral, aromatic, and powdery notes creates something that lingers in memory long after the initial application, inviting repeated exploration and discovery.
The geosmin is the tell. That compound, the one responsible for petrichor, the smell of wet earth after rain, isn't commonly used in perfumery. Here, it's the opening move. Paired with Provençal lavender, it creates a tension between the mineral-earthy and the aromatic-cool that defines the fragrance's first hour. The addition of iris and orris root adds a powdery dimension that softens the rawness without sanitizing it. Jasmine appears in the heart, fleeting, offering a quiet sweetness that prevents the composition from becoming too austere.
The evolution
The opening is all geosmin, that sharp, almost industrial earth smell. Within minutes, Provençal lavender arrives, herbal and cooling, pushing back against the initial rawness. Iris powder builds quietly underneath, adding a soft texture. The first hour reads as confrontational: this is not a polite fragrance. Then the heart opens up. The lavender becomes more aromatic, less sharp. Jasmine appears, brief and bittersweet. Sea salt and kelp introduce an ozonic quality that feels almost otherworldly, as if the earth is somehow also the ocean. Vetiver and loam anchor everything, keeping the composition grounded even as it lifts. As the hours progress, the mineral quality softens and the powdery iris becomes more pronounced. The composition shifts from its initial assertiveness toward something more intimate, with the floral and aromatic elements weaving together into a cohesive whole.
Cultural impact
The collaboration between Régime des Fleurs and Bunny Rogers brought together two distinct creative practices in a single object. As Above So Below participates in ongoing conversations about how fragrance functions within contemporary art contexts. The work appeals to those who view scent as a form of cultural production rather than mere luxury goods. Collectors and curators have responded to pieces from this house that treat fragrance as a legitimate artistic medium, one capable of communicating ideas and evoking complex responses.
