By Kilian Asian Tales 5 new fragrances inspired by Asia

Hot on the heels of the latest release, Amber Oud, Kilian Hennesy of the niche, luxe perfume brand By Kilian is announcing a new collection of fragrances: Asian Tales by Kilian. The new fragrance line is a concept of five fragrant editions that will recount the Chinese tradition and pay homage to this great culture.

The first installment, WATER CALLIGRAPHY, is set to launch officially in 2012, and pays homage to the calligraphy arts of the Far East. The perfumer behind Water Calligraphy and Bamboo Harmony is Calice Becker, who has created the majority of the By Kilian perfumes.

HARMONY BAMBOO is inspired by The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, a Japanese folk tale. The bamboo stands as the symbol of human perfection and is in Chinese culture the means to practice calligraphy with, it being the main material out of which calligraphy  brushes are made of. It symbolizes therefore art, beauty and the "men of letters".

The fragrance Harmony Bamboo by Kilian focuses on the olfactory impression of a sip of white tea drunk off bamboo, with fresh top notes of notes of bergamot, neroli and Bigarade. The white tea leaves being renowned for their sumptuous taste and delicate refinement are here accented with a hint of spice. Coupled with white tea there are Maté notes in Harmony Bamboo, interwoven with fig leaves and oakmoss, making us savour a serene moment of spirituality in a drop of fragrance.

The rest of the collection will comprise:

The new line, Asian Tales by Kilian, was originally conceived as an olfactory journey. But soon the hidden meanings of the symbols and words led to a more spiritual path. Therefore, more than a cultural journey, Asian Tales is an invitation to pay tribute to the spiritual traditions in the Far East's illustrious past.

Side by side with his L'Oeuvre Noire collection, now L'Oeuvre Rouge!

Red is the color of luck and good fortune in China, associated with official ceremonies and nobility. Therefore Kilian Hennesy carefully chose to use red as a token of respect and consistency with Chinese culture. Currency is also considered an amulet in China, therefore coins are traditionally tied to a red ribbon as an invitation to prosperity. Therefore the Asian Tales collection is comprised of the familiar black lacquer wooden boxes which are now lined in red satin, juxtaposing these two powerful shades of opposites. The "key" in the boxes now takes the form of a coin, in polished silver, also tied to a red ribbon and bow, to bring good luck to those who will wear the fragrances. The feeling you get upon opening the box is one of a "precious jewel" being revealed.

Last but not least, the medal/coin that accompanies the bottle is engraved with the lucky number 8, bearer of prosperity and happiness and a mystical nod to the cosmos, due to its perfectly symmetrical shape that represents infinity and perfect balance. This is placed side by side with the letter K, the logo of the By Kilian brand.

Photo of the flacon from the By Kilian Press Release

Author: Elena Vosnaki is a historian & perfume writer from Greece and a Writer to Fragrantica. She is the founder and editor of Perfume Shrine, one of the most respected independent online publications on perfume containing fragrance reviews, industry interviews, essays on raw materials and perfume history, a winner in Fragrantica Blog Awards and a finalist in numerous blog awards contests. Her writing was recognised at the Fifi Awards for Editorial Excellence in 2009 and she has been contributing to publications around the world.