The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
The Harmony of Being arrived in 2016 from Scent by Alexis, with Alexis Karl credited as the fragrance's perfumer. Its composition brings together tender flowers, coffee sweetness, resinous spice, and a woody base. The title evokes a sense of equilibrium, while the fragrance shifts between floral warmth and deeper notes of oud, ambergris, and cedar. Its unisex design reinforces that balance, pairing lush floral notes with woods and resins rather than placing the composition within a strictly masculine or feminine lane. The result is a layered scent that changes registers while remaining cohesive, inviting attention to the meeting of coffee blossom, Moroccan rose, mimosa, and the darker base notes.
The unusual part lies in the contrast. Coffee blossom brings a roasted softness that sits beside Moroccan rose and mimosa, creating a floral center with both sweetness and definition. Labdanum and petitgrain introduce resinous depth and a green-edged bitterness, keeping the flowers from becoming overly sweet. Oud and ambergris lend a darker, softly mineral character, with cedar providing a clean, woody edge. Floral, coffeesweet, soft, and resinous all at once, the structure makes the name feel less decorative than descriptive.
The evolution
The opening arrives with floral and coffeesweet warmth. Coffee blossom brings a roasted pulse, rose adds a polished floral accent, and mimosa keeps the bouquet light. Labdanum warms the center from within, while petitgrain adds a restrained green edge. Later, oud takes over with smoky depth, ambergris lends a soft mineral glow, and cedar draws a woody line beneath everything. The scent remains close and expressive, revealing its character gradually: first the floral and roasted notes, then the resinous textures of labdanum, and finally the darker combination of oud, ambergris, and cedar. Its wear shifts between brightness and warmth before settling into a woody, softly mineral base.
Cultural impact
The Harmony of Being is defined by the meeting of lush floral notes, roasted warmth, and resinous woods. Coffee blossom, Moroccan rose, and mimosa create a expressive floral center, while labdanum and petitgrain introduce resinous depth and a green edge. Oud, ambergris, and cedar provide a darker foundation for the composition. The fragrance was released in 2016, and its unisex design places emphasis on the balance and interaction of its notes rather than a strictly gendered presentation. It invites discovery through a gradual progression from floral and coffeesweet notes into warmer woods, resins, and soft mineral facets.
The House
Scent by AlexisScent by Alexis is a niche fragrance house founded by multimedia artist and filmmaker Alexis Karl. Since the mid‑2000s the brand has offered a series of olfactory works that read like short stories, each title hinting at a narrative or a mood. The collection includes early releases such as Vixen (2000) and Venus in Furs (2006) and later pieces like Dreaming Etermal (2016). Karl works with perfumers, most notably Maria, to translate visual concepts into scent, positioning the brand at the intersection of art and aroma.
The Creator
Alexis KarlKarl's style resists neat description, though certain threads persist. She favors deep, resinous bases that suggest darkness without becoming heavy.
