The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Aubres was created by Chris Maurice in 2017 as an exclusive commission for Fortnum & Mason in London. The opening is bright and assertive, a citrus wave that feels sun-drenched and immediate. Bergamot and Sicilian lemon arrive together, carrying that unmistakable Mediterranean brightness before the composition shifts. As the top notes recede, the heart opens into something deeper and more textured. Herbal tones emerge, with lavender softened by myrtle and holy basil adding a quiet bitter edge. Galbanum threads through with a green, almost resinous quality that prevents the heart from ever feeling purely sweet. The base anchors the fragrance in warmth: cedar and labdanum provide a dry, slightly leathery foundation, while patchouli adds earthiness that lingers close to the skin.
The heart of Aubres pairs Provençal lavender with holy basil and galbanum. The elemi resin threads a faint citrus-rosy note through the entire heart, adding unexpected brightness. Lavender provides the soft, aromatic backbone, while holy basil introduces a green, slightly bitter edge that prevents the composition from feeling too gentle. Galbanum amplifies this green quality, lending a resinous bitterness that balances the lavender's softness.
The evolution
Aubres opens with the kind of citrus immediacy that announces itself without apology, bergamot and Sicilian lemon arriving together in a single bright wave. Within the first hour, the heart notes begin their slow take-over. The herbs become more prominent: lavender softened by myrtle, holy basil adding a slightly bitter edge, galbanum providing the green counterweight. The frankincense arrives quietly, threading smoke through the composition before the citrus fully fades. As the heart matures, the herbal complexity deepens, with the green bitterness of galbanum becoming more pronounced against the softening lavender. The frankincense smoke weaves through the composition, its resinous character growing more distinct as the citrus fades entirely. The drydown is where this fragrance spends most of its life.
Cultural impact
A Fortnum & Mason exclusive, Aubres joined the Shooting Stars collection, a series of fragrances created for the London department store. The exclusive release limited initial availability, drawing attention from collectors and fragrance enthusiasts who prize limited-edition releases from established houses. The composition itself rewards those who seek it out, with its layered herbal heart and quiet frankincense smoke offering something more thoughtful than the typical woody aromatic.
