The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Year XOXO launched in 2026 as the final chapter of Sarah Baker Perfumes' Vanilla Trilogy, a concept described through a post-apocalyptic story about survivors preserving the last apple tree and a library for the next generation. Margaux Le Paih-Guérin composed the fragrance around that tension: green apple and ozone bring a clean, almost digital brightness, while paper, skin accord, cashmere wood and Forbidden vanilla give the future a human trace. The result feels less like a relic from a vanished world and more like a message passed forward, fresh-faced on skin, quietly woody underneath.
The unusual part is the handoff between materials that shouldn't share the same sentence. Crisp green apple and ozonic notes make the composition feel electrically clean, then book accord introduces a dry, papery intelligence. Skin accord keeps that edge from becoming sterile, adding a soft, close-to-the-body texture that connects the brightness with something more tactile. Together, the notes create a future that still carries traces of touch, paper and shelter, balancing sharp freshness with dry, intimate layers.
The evolution
The opening lands on green apple, musk and ozone, giving the first impression a cold, bright edge and a faint sense of electricity in the air. That brightness softens into the middle, where book accord and skin accord make the fragrance feel intimate and cerebral, like pages handled late in the evening. Cashmere wood then supplies a smooth, woody calm beneath the sweetness. Cloud accord keeps the drydown airy, while vanilla settles in as the lasting warmth. On skin, the composition shifts gradually as its brighter opening gives way to a softer, warmer impression, with the dry paper character remaining distinct. On fabric and paper, it stays more present, leaving a lingering trace of green apple over vanilla.
Cultural impact
Year XOXO is a future-facing vanilla composition with a post-apocalyptic story. Its unusual note pairing gives the fragrance a sense of narrative and artistic statement, moving between the cold clarity of green apple and ozone, the dry intimacy of book and skin accords, and the softer warmth of cashmere wood, cloud and vanilla. The result is a composition that invites exploration through its tension between brightness, texture and sweetness.
The House
Sarah Baker PerfumesSarah Baker Perfumes is a London-based niche fragrance house founded by multidisciplinary artist Sarah Baker. The brand occupies a distinctive position in the niche fragrance world by treating each scent as an artistic statement rather than a commercial product. Baker collaborates with various perfumers to translate her conceptual visions into olfactory experiences, creating fragrances that resist easy categorization. The collection spans multiple years, with releases including Charade and Atlante (both 2018), Tartan (2017), Flame & Fortune (2020), Gold Spot (2022), and more recent offerings like Rococo Pie and Pastel Rumours (both 2024). The house has built a following among fragrance enthusiasts who appreciate its theatrical approach and narrative-driven compositions.
The Creator
Margaux Le Paih-GuérinMargaux Le Paih Guérin gravitates toward contrast. She pairs unexpected ingredients with conviction, whether that means wrapping oud in candy sweetness or pushing musk into genuinely dirty territory.



























