The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Madly, Deeply, Loved is a 2024 release from Speaks To Me. The name makes the central feeling explicit: being cherished, of someone looking at you and not looking away. Nanako Ogi is the perfumer, and the fragrance presents that declaration through a composition built around bright fruit, warm spice, rose, tea, incense, and a soft woody base. Speaks To Me has made the title itself part of the scent's appeal. Rather than relying on imagery or fantasy, Madly, Deeply, Loved states its idea plainly and lets the notes carry the emotional charge. Its character comes from the contrast between vivid citrus and rhubarb, the heat of cinnamon and black pepper, the dry character of tea and frankincense, and the softer finish of sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, and patchouli.
What makes the structure work is how it sidesteps the rose-and-spice genre without abandoning it. The opener is rhubarb and grapefruit rather than berry, which pushes the brightness into something tart and green instead of sweet. Pepper and cinnamon bring weight, but the heart pulls back into something meditative as frankincense, saffron, rose, and tea occupy the center. Tea adds a dry quality, while the rose and resins give the composition a softly textured middle. As the fragrance wears, the brighter fruit and spice gradually give way to sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, and patchouli.
The evolution
The opening is led by cinnamon and black pepper, sharpened by grapefruit and rhubarb into something bright and almost cold, spiced, and tart. The fruit brings a lively green edge without settling into a simple sweetness. As the composition develops, rose becomes more apparent, accompanied by frankincense smoke, dry tea, and saffron. These notes give the heart a layered character, combining floral softness with resinous, dry, and gently warm elements. The spices gradually become less prominent as the fragrance moves toward its base. Sandalwood and vanilla come forward, creating a smoother and creamier impression, while patchouli underneath adds a slightly earthy, dusty quality. Vetiver contributes a dry woody character that keeps the base from becoming overly sweet.
Cultural impact
Madly, Deeply, Loved is a fragrance centered on devotion and the experience of being cherished. Its title gives that emotional theme a clear name, while the composition develops the idea through contrasting notes rather than literal symbolism. Grapefruit and rhubarb make the opening bright and tart, cinnamon and black pepper bring warmth, and rose, tea, frankincense, and saffron create a textured heart. The base of sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, and patchouli adds warmth and depth. Speaks To Me's name also invites attention to the relationship between a fragrance and the message it carries.
The House
Speaks To MeSpeaks To Me is a niche fragrance house that approaches perfumery as an act of personal narrative. Each release reads like a chapter from someone's life, with names like Healing Trail, Madly, Deeply, Loved, and Slow Sunset suggesting the house leans into emotional memory and lived experience as creative fuel. The brand debuted its first fragrances in 2024 and has continued to expand its catalog through 2025, building a portfolio that favors intimate storytelling over large-scale launches.
The Creator
Nanako OgiHer work blends Eastern subtlety with Western boldness, informed by her multicultural background. Ogi gravitates toward warm woods, resins, and rich florals, often structuring compositions around aldehydes for a sophisticated, almost nostalgic quality.
