The Pursuit of Happiness: The Origins of the White Collection

The White Collection, (Nuda Veritas, Twilight of Souls, Choir of Angels) is a fragrant triptych celebrating perfumery as the 8th art.

Gustav Klimt's Beethoven Frieze (1902) plays a key role in the creation of the Atelier des Ors White Collection. Klimt is best known for his paintings from the 'Golden Period', and his most famous work is 'The Kiss,' a gold leaf that features in many of Klimt's paintings from this period and is also a source of inspiration for Atelier des Ors.

Klimt was a member of the Secession group, established in 1897 and based in Vienna. The group came together as a reaction against classical conservatism in art. The Secession Group advocated Gesamtkunstwerk, which literally means "total work of art." This concept is based on the belief that different art forms such as literature, art, painting, sculpture, theater, etc. can express a more complete art form in symbiosis. The goal of the Vienna Secession was to promote modern art at all levels of society by presenting exhibitions free from strict guidelines. They supported young, unconventional artists and focused on techniques and crafts.

In 1902, the 14th Vienna Secessionist Exhibition was held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Beethoven's death. The exhibition featured Klimt's Beethoven Frieze, an impressive creation (34m wide by 2m high) that greeted visitors in the hall. Inspired by Wagner's interpretation of Beethoven's 9th Symphony and the poetry of Friedrich Schiller's Ode to Joy, the work integrates poetic and musical influences, a total work of art.

Art is a treatise on the search for happiness, an eternal and ever-present desire for humanity, to travel beyond the darkest moments to a civilization where happiness and joy are omnipresent. A progressive movement to move humanity forward. This universal and timeless theme also refers to the individual search for joy and peace. Recognizing the elements of light and darkness in our lives and seeking a solution.

The three fragrances in the White Collection are companions on this quest for happiness. Each scent represents a theme from this journey. An olfactory link between the three fragrances exists with a common thread of orange notes—Orange Blossom, Blood Orange, and Mandarin. The evocative scents and hues of orange, amber, and honey represent radiance and golden light. Each fragrance can be enjoyed in its own right. Considered as a collection, they represent a powerful statement.

Perfumery is considered an 8th Art and we are proud to bring to life our olfactory interpretation of this monumental work and its themes.

PART 1: NUDA VERITAS - First part of Klimt's triptych (below)

The white space of hope and truth. Humanity stripped bare. The shining knight, in his golden armor, acts as humanity's savior. An indelible lightness of being is at the heart of Nuda Veritas, the beginning of a spiritual quest in search of happiness. The fragrance unfolds with a delicate floral heart of jasmine and osmanthus enveloped in layers of textural whiteness, full of hope and desire. Humanity is connected to the earth and minerals through notes of moss. We look to the sky and seek the truth laid bare in a transparent mist with notes of patchouli and the gentle caress of ambroxan.

A serene, simple and true moment…

PART 2: TWILIGHT OF SOULS - Second part of Klimt's triptych (below)

The search for balance between purity and temptation is omnipresent.
Twilight refers to the moments of transition from light to dark, and from dark to light. The sleepy, dark hours and the brilliance of dawn and new beginnings. Twilight of Souls is a fragrance to enslave the senses with its fine spices and warm golden glow. A second skin to wear in the dark hours while souls are at stake, when we feel deep desires and the inherent duality of our consciousness. A radiant warmth that speaks to pleasure and carnal desire imbued with the furious heat of Typhoeus. Frankincense, patchouli, and hyraceum warm the primal animal aura.

For times when we seek the truth, to find a way through temptation.
An addictive and stimulating fragrance with an element of intrigue…

PART 3: CHORUS OF ANGELS - Third part of Klimt's triptych (below)

Salvation is found in the arts, poetry, and music, bringing the search for happiness to its conclusion. The final opus is exuberant and joyful, culminating in a warm embrace. Choeur des Anges is a poetic celebration of color, fragrance, and the joy of living fused with blood orange, carrot seeds, fruits, and radiant flowers. A symphonic creation inspired by the harmonious voices of angels. An ambrosia like a golden nectar of osmanthus and honey that sings in harmony with the gods. Choeur des Anges is a fragrance that connects to the primal desire for happiness, where salvation is found in lyrical amber tones.

A radiant and joyful experience,
A cocooned embrace,
A kiss to the whole world.