Primordial Waters, Love the Heavenly Scent

First, there were gases then came the light, after that water, and eventually there was man. For the monotheistic religions, this is the story of the seven days of creation and of the Garden of Eden. The first waters on earth are known as primordial waters. As for primordial man, in the mystic take on Judaism, Adam Kadmon is the manifestation of the highest configuration of divine light and is often described as giving life to all things. In science, it is described as something existing from the beginning. Ultimately it is an energy that is life-giving, life-firming. In the present day, it is also the name of a perfume collection, with absolute heavenly scents Find out more in Primordial Waters, Love the Heavenly Scent.

 Image on left Samantha Inman @rememberingtobreathe

Have you heard the term Primordial waters, it can also be called cosmic ocean, or celestial river and is used as a mythological motif to represent the world or cosmos enveloped by a vast primordial ocean. The cosmic ocean existed before the creation of the Earth. From the primordial waters the Earth and the entire cosmos arose.

The cosmic ocean is also present in the mythology of Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greeks, Abrahamic, Ancient Indians, Ancient Persians, Sumerians, and Zoroastrians. It plays a prominent role in ancient Near Eastern, biblical, and other cosmologies.

Samudra manthan M A Joshi and company

In North Asia and North America, the Earth-diver myth is found. In this myth, a creator god dives into the cosmic ocean to bring up and form the Earth and appears in mythologies of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and Samoyedic peoples.

As much as these are of religious bases, perfume also is very much part of many religious ceremonies, via oils and incense. So it could be thought of as a primordial fragrance.

A term borrowed from Jules Verne’s book ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’, this body of water was the first signs of life on Earth and was the inspiration for a house of perfume called of course ” Les Eaux Primordiales (primordial waters)

Arnaud Poulain was born in Arras in the north of France in 1986. Surrounded by a family of artisans, from metalworkers to carpenters and farmers. He took a slightly different root because as a teenager he was fascinated by science and so went on to study mechanical engineering. But then he discovered fragrance; a love at first sniff.

He started his formal training in Lens where he learnt the groundwork of the perfumer’s profession. There he met Amélie Bourgeois, (French perfumer) who became his mentor and who still supports him today in the technical elaboration of his fragrances.

With many years of experience in independent perfumery behind him, he founded Les Eaux Primordiales in 2015. The inspiration for and design of Les Eaux Promordiales are shaped by the industrial heritage of Northern France and science and art in all their forms. Not making an easy journey for himself, he housed his company in Nothern France, far from the home of perfumery in the country, which is Grasse, in southern France.

This rebellious perfume chemist, talks of his creations

“You don’t create a fragrance. You invent a fragrance”.

The meeting of science and nature means he does not hesitate to shake up the established codes of perfumery to serve unforgettable olfactory experiences; the artist melds with the engineer in the Garden of Eden.

Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens, The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man. Mauritshuis, The Hague

And the elixirs? Utilising a multi-faceted approach to them where he looks to fuze, art, music, fashion, literature, and memory, with emotion with, of course, his never-ending innovative mind and spirit.  Just like the ancient waters that spring anew, these juices could easily be referred to as scented neo-classical modernity.

It’s also possible to think of these fragrances as his dreams that he brings to life, bottles and then allows the wearer to bring another life, expression and power to the scent when they wear them.

The collection is broken down into four categories, Superclassique, Supercritique, Superfluide and Supermassive. The Supermassive group is the collection of Extraits, the most powerful and rich in the fragrance world with the percentage of ‘perfume’ being upwards of 30% (but can be much more)

Ambre Supermassive, the newest scent in the Extrait de Parfum a celebration of the mystical beauty of red Amber, evoking the depth and warmth of this rich precious stone.

Initially a fruity spicy scent but as expected from this perfume house this fragrance has depth. It opens with a flush of ripe Peaches Apples -(like an autumnal orchard) that melds with its best friend spice of Cinnamon as well as more bright zesty fruit from pineapple with sesame.

The heart of this juice again brings together unusual facets, with the dignity of Rose, delicious boozy Rum sweet spice from Cardamom, with warm golden glow of Honey and finally Heliotrope with its delicate powdery floral facets, alongside vanilla and even a slight spice and marzipan tinges.

Its base wraps all the earlier facets repeating elements back and providing a darker more enigmatic finish. Black Vanilla, Amber, Saffron, and Tobacco alongside the wrapping comfort of Musk finalise this trail.

The fruit and spice with a hint of depth and smoke meld seemingly effortlessly onto the skin for a sexy yet mysterious lingering scent.

Also in the Supermassive collection find the Vanille
Extrait de Parfum,  where spices carry Satchouli and white Musk meld with a constellation of woody notes alongside the solar aura of majestic, incandescent Vanilla.

The Superfluide collection highlights the most beautiful materials of high perfumery. Amongst spices, resins and precious woods, each element sublimates these superfluids and offers compositions with a strong power of attraction.

Including delicious scents like Cedre. The powerful yet sophisticated scent of Cedar transports us to the peaks of the Atlas Mountains at dusk. Aromas of Rose are the travel companions and reveal velvety Plum notes at dawn. An addictive mist breaks free, leaving Vanilla and Saffron to brighten up the day.

Next up Arnaud Poulain offers a unique interpretation of a Super Rose,  this multifaceted flower with fresh and fruity top notes. The Rose absolute and Saffron middle notes blossom into a powerful oriental trail. This creation embodies the yin and the yang, the duality between fresh and intense, between well-behaved and bold.

Then there is Supercritique collection. Here the extraction process using CO2, is used which allows the essential oil of a flower to be collected while preserving each molecule of its fragrance without altering its quality. 

The Supercritique collection honours the most emblematic flowers of high perfumery. From classics like Rose and Orange Blossom to the more enigmatic Crocus and Champaca, this collection pays tribute to the timeless beauty of these plant queens.

Take for example the Gardinia. This white flower originating in the tropics is made sublime here by a gourmet embellishment. Infused in Vanilla milk, it hints at aromas of red fruits and Pear, while the Patchouli base note lifts its splendour to offer an unforgettable fragrance.

Lastly is the Superclassique Collection a timeless formula that serves as an absolute reference in its category. The first series designed by Arnaud Poulain, the Superclassique collection embodies a certain vision of perfume, both modern and timeless. 

Inspired by the great classics of 20th century French perfumery, it reinvents the formulas to give them a new radiance marked by audacity and innovation.

Here Iris Palladium represents a rare combination of flower and precious metal. Opening notes of Iris and Cardamom reveal all the mystery and power of this blend. Like a silk scarf, this smooth fragrance diffuses warmth and sensuality over every inch of skin. A base of woody, vanilla-like Sandalwood brings delicacy and emotion to this unique olfactory mechanism.

Also available in the house is the new skincare range by Les Eaux Primordiales. Purity and delicacy in perfect harmony provide a stunning sensorial experience. A trilogy of scented decorative objects embodying the aesthetic of industrial buildings in Northern France. Their geometric shape is reminiscent of the outline of decommissioned factory chimney stacks.

And of course, on a final note, there is home scent. Once the wick is lit, the candles light up and rekindle the memory of those forgotten buildings. Made from ceramic heated to over 1,000 °C, each object is then hand-enamelled in black, ivory and real gold.

The interchangeable octagonal-shaped pillars can be removed from their base. Each candle exudes an iconic Eaux Primordiales perfume melted into soya wax adorned with an untreated cotton wick.
All the scented objects are meticulously crafted at Manufacture du Domaine Primordial and deliver a unique immobile olfactory experience.

Now were that not enough, Arnaud Poulain turned to his homelands, near Arras, Northern France, to establish La Manufacture of perfumes. From the design of the fragrance with Amélie Bourgeois through to bottling, the whole process is hosted at La Manufacture. As well as hosting spaces for artisanal workers in this castle-like building.

Inspired by the heritage of this unique place, Arnaud chose to give it a second life and make it the flagship of luxury craftsmanship made in France. Every day, a team of 22 people bring to life with passion the château’s reception rooms, La Manufacture, the cabinet-making workshop and the candle-making workshop.

Arnaud Poulain, like a mad scientist of perfumery, has built more than a fragrance house. An actual building and gardens as a celebration of an ephemeral set of emotions alongside a celebration of pure craftmanship.

Even now science can’t answer all the questions about our universe, and many of us find safety in a more ‘spirtual’ understanding, and a love of Mother Earth. Here our scientist meets our global feminine bringing forth divine elixirs.

To find out more about Les Euax Primordiales please visit leseauxprimordiales.com Here