Introducing the Fragrant Fable
The Fragrant Fables Collection
Nuance and nonconformity, distilled into scent and stanza
Rooted in an olfactive signature of aromatic, herbaceous complexity, Aesop writes a new chapter for its fragrance collection, fusing its mastery of raw essential oils and long-standing reverence for literature. With evocative narratives, a distinctly tactile new bottle and a fresh addition to the range, the Fragrant Fables collection comes to the minds and noses of customers seeking nonconformist scents. To allow for a measured discovery, the launch will unfold in two phases—with the following Eaux de Parfum available from September 2026: Boundless Eremia, Entirely Aurner, Evoking Eidesis, Rozū Arises, Tacit Truths, Eternal Karst, Silently, Hwyl, and Unforeseen Aer. The remainder of the collection will follow in February 2027.
A new chapter in a time-honed story
20 years ago, Aesop launched its first personal fragrance, Marrakech, extending its expertise in harnessing botanical extracts in the formulation of products for the skin, hair and body. Much as an author edits and refines their work over time, the collection—now spanning 12 Eaux de Parfum, including renowned aromas such as Evoking Eidesis, Tacit Truths and Entirely Aurner—builds upon the olfactive, literary and aesthetic foundations of Aesop’s existing fragrance range, further distilling the brand’s unique approach to fragrance creation.
‘Our fragrances have always been an extension of our philosophy, which has brought us closer to our customers for the last 20 years,’ says Aesop co-founder and Chief Customer Officer Suzanne Santos. ‘They speak to those who find value in nuance—people whose choices are guided by assured intentions, not fleeting trends, and who are not going to place a product against their pulse points unless they have an intimate relationship with it. That was the story from the very beginning—fragrances inspired by specific human experiences, crafted by noses who understand the poetry of science, and worn by individuals who are endlessly curious about our world.'
Each fragrance a fable. Each fable a question.
What if the notes of a fragrance could provoke thoughts and stir emotions, much like a line of poetry? It is this notion that the new collection explores, offering discerning fragrance enthusiasts—and bibliophiles—a chance to pause and ponder.
Inspired by Aesop's namesake—the ancient Greek fabulist—the stories behind the existing fragrance range are transposed into fable-like poems, which carry with them an invitation to reflect on values that are pertinent to the modern day. From questioning what lies beyond surface reflections, to how reinvention may lead us to new heights, each tale invites conversation. Displayed on each aroma’s box, the fables provide quiet moments of contemplation.
As part of this, the name of each Eau de Parfum has been adapted to a fable-like title which nods to the value it embodies, from Tacit Truths which explores trust as a source of connection, to Eternal Karst which highlights the importance of resilience during times of change.
The Radical Ingredient, the Fabulist Accord
The unique olfactory signatures of the collection follow Aesop’s poetic approach to blending, which harnesses unexpected botanicals to potent effect. Over the decades, Aesop has collaborated with revered noses to interpret its characteristically aromatic world and intriguing points of inspiration—a process that begins with conversation over a selection of images, colours, objects, poems and even songs. Perfumer Céline Barel, who created both Tacit Truths and Entirely Aurner says: ‘To work with Aesop is to engage in an artistic dialogue—and it’s rare that a brand brings such strong, elevated, and unexpected points of reference to a brief, along with a distinct aromatic legacy. Though they span various olfactive families, Aesop’s fragrances are all united by a ‘rawness’, elegantly tamed. An inimitable blend of nature and poetry.’
Each fragrance comprises a Radical Ingredient and a Fabulist Accord. The Radical Ingredient is a singular botanical extract that reveals often surprising facets across the top, heart and base notes of the Eau de Parfum due to its unfiltered presence. Meanwhile, the Fabulist Accord conjures the imagined aroma of that which is unscented in nature—an aromatic narrative woven by three key ingredients. Take for example Above Us, Steorra—its Fabulist Accord conjures the scent of amber with a constellation of Frankincense, Labdanum and Vanilla Bean, while the Radical Ingredient, Cardamom, soars above to lend a sizzling warmth.
The amber bottle, enhanced
While no story should be judged by its cover, the Fragrant Fables have pronounced aesthetic—as well as olfactive—qualities. The amber glass bottle stays characteristically minimalist, yet with enhanced elements such as a domed base, taller form and new textured cap, inspired by Basalt rock—a millennia-old material that is found widely across Melbourne, where Aesop was founded. The fragrance name is displayed in metallic amber text, with an insignia embossed on the glass and debossed on the cap. These new vessels are also more readily recycled, as the atomiser is now easily removed.
A novel addition: Unforeseen Aer Eau de Parfum
How might change enrich us? It is this question which sits at the heart of Unforeseen Aer—Aesop’s latest Eau de Parfum. The fable that narrates its creation—which draws on a protagonist from nature, like most fables past—follows the story of a gentle wind, fearing the disruptions it might cause, which soon learns to revel in the sublime chaos its gusts and wild breezes bring about. It is a fable that urges us to rethink what we might view as ‘flaws’, instead seeing the potential that lies beyond moments of seeming failure or imperfection.
A characteristically nonconformist take on a classic fougère scent, Unforeseen, Aer features a Fabulist Accord of Geranium, Lavandin and Rosemary that conjures the scent of Pure Air flowing across rugged heights. This perfectly crisp medley of aromas is contrasted with the Radical Ingredient of Nutmeg, which reveals the merits of the imperfect with its complex, textured warmth.
Aesop’s story is one that holds a fable-like quality in itself—one filled with curiosity, experimentation, and an inimitable blend of the cerebral and the sensorial. The Fragrant Fables collection extends this narrative, weaving together the brand’s long-held reverence for literature and its time-honed expertise in the blending of aromatic essential oils, to craft an aromatic odyssey for adventurous noses and curious minds.
