The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Damir Doma designs clothes the way this fragrance smells, deconstructed, precise, unhurried. The name Ende/Anfang is German for end and beginning, a philosophical tension the fashion designer embedded into his entire creative brief for Six Scents. For Yann Vasnier, the task was to translate that duality into something wearable. The result is a woody, smoky, resinous composition that moves from sharp cedar to warm, lingering resins. It launched in 2009 as part of Six Scents Series Two, each fragrance individually numbered in a limited run of 2,000 bottles, with a percentage of proceeds directed toward environmental sustainability programs.
What makes this composition unusual is the beeswax absolute, not a typical fragrance material, more often found in candle formulations. Here it anchors the entire structure, lending a warm, waxy honey character that threads through all three phases rather than disappearing after the opening. The drydown is where Ende/Anfang earns its name: patchouli, myrrh, benzoin, and a touch of birch tar combine into a smoky, balsamic base that holds close to the skin for 6-8 hours. Cedar and vetiver persist through the final hours, refusing to fully leave.
The evolution
Cedar opens the story, crisp, clean, and immediate. Within minutes the beeswax softens the edge, adding warmth that makes the whole composition feel close. After ten minutes, coriander and cardamom arrive. This is the phase where opinions diverge: the sharp, green, slightly soapy character of coriander can feel aggressive on first spray before the sandalwood and vetiver smooth it out. The heart settles into a warm creaminess, sandalwood dominates, vetiver grounds it, and the spices recede into a quiet background hum. By the final act, patchouli and myrrh take over. Benzoin adds a sweet balsamic note. The birch tar contributes a faint smokiness without ever becoming pyrotechnic. This is a winter fragrance through and through, cool air amplifies its warmth, and its resinous character deepens when the temperature drops.
Cultural impact
Damir Doma's minimalist, deconstructed aesthetic translated into a fragrance that rewards patience. Wearers describe it as the scent of someone who walks into a room and doesn't need to announce themselves. The frankincense and myrrh combination draws comparisons to heavier oud fragrances at a fraction of the weight, resinous without being cloying, woody without being aggressive.
