Monet’s Garden and the Perfume SUIREN (created in 2007)
Concept
The creation of the fragrance SUIREN was inspired by “Monet’s Garden” in Giverny.
The scent evokes water lilies floating on a pond, heavy with dew. Sparkling sunlight and the reflections of tree shadows, a breeze creating soft ripples on the surface of the pond. Our concept is the image of a dreamy, drowsy moment spent gazing at the ever-changing expressions of the pond.
Inspiration
When I was young, I kept a photo book called “Monet’s Garden” by my bedside. Every night before going to sleep, I would open its pages. Each time I did, I was instantly transported to another world. When I looked at photographs of the tulip garden, I felt the coming of spring. I could almost smell the scent of the topiary roses emanating from the page. I could imagine myself standing on the wisteria-covered drum bridge. I knew that when I reached the famous water lily pond, my heart would fill with serenity.
More than ten years later, I finally had the chance to visit Giverny. I hopped on a bus from Paris, my heart pounding with anticipation as I listened to the elderly female guide’s commentary in French. I alighted at Giverny and walked toward “Monet’s Garden.”
The moment I stepped into the garden, the scenery I had dreamed of stretched out before me. The landscape was bathed in soft light. The water lily pond shimmered silently, its surface whispering as the wind gently caressed it. I wanted to sit by the edge of that pond from dusk till dawn, lost in the sparkling reflections of the water. Time seemed to stand still, and a profound sense of peace filled my heart.
My desire to express this deeply memorable scene in the shape of a fragrance grew stronger, and the SUIREN fragrance was born the year I visited Giverny.
Fragrance Note
With the first spray, you are instantly transported to a crisp early-morning forest. A refreshing, cleansing sensation washes over you.
In the cool, clean water lily pond, a touch of Bulgarian rose essence blooms, adding soft pink flowers to the landscape.
As time passes, a gentle woody musk begins to drift through the air, bringing the peaceful comfort of the shade from the trees. In the background, the faint sweetness of baby powder quietly awakens innocent childhood memories.
SUIREN is a serene fragrance. It conjures up images of spending a summer holiday at a resort, reading books, and dozing off peacefully. It will bring a deep sense of relaxation to your heart and mind.
About the Ingredients
While the perfume SUIREN draws its inspiration from the scenery of Monet’s pond, the core scent was built around the actual aroma of lotus flowers.
Large white lotus flowers have an ozonic character with a thick, creamy green note reminiscent of melon or cucumber.
Pink lotus flowers, on the other hand, offer a crisp, snappy fruity-green scent, similar to a firm, unripe peach. I have experienced lotuses in various locations, and I have noticed that the nuances of each variety are slightly different, yet they all share a distinct watery quality.
I transformed this strong impression into ingredients and constructed a central lotus base note. I used calone, helional and other ozonic, aquatic, and sheer floral notes, enhanced with eucalyptus to bring out a crystal-clear transparency. A touch of rose essence was added to draw a delicate pale pink streak through the composition. From the middle notes onward, the fragrance is gently wrapped in a drowsy woody-musk and powdery softness.
Impressionism and Perfume
Even before my visit to Giverny, I had encountered Monet’s water lily paintings many times-at museums in Japan, the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and other places around the world. I have also read many novels themed around impressionism, and the images have bloomed vividly in my mind.
Japonisme began in the 19th century when Japanese art crossed the seas to Europe. This resulted in a deep influence on Western art, and from there, the wave spread into Art Nouveau and eventually Impressionism.
Some art connoisseurs may teasingly say, “Japanese people just love impressionism,” but if the roots of that love lie in Japonisme, then that love is perfectly natural.
Impressionist paintings, expressed with soft, delicate nuances of light and color, without clear outlines or boundaries seem to resonate deeply with what is often called “Japan’s ambiguous and indistinct culture.”
As European perfume reached Japan’s shores, it transformed itself in a way that suits the Japanese spiritual and cultural sensibility. In that sense, I believe the perfumes of Parfum Satori embody “Japanese Perfume” and the art of impressionism in fragrance.
Difference between the Lotus and the Water Lily
Finally, I would like to explain the difference between the lotus (HASU) and the water lily (SUIREN).
LOTUS (HASU)
⚫︎Scientific name Nelumbo nucifera
⚫︎Leaves Lotus leaves are large and round, rising high above the water surface. Their leaves are highly water-repellent, causing water droplets to form and roll off exquisitely.
⚫︎Flowers Lotus flowers are large, vibrant, and usually pink or white. They stand tall above the water on long stems, with many petals, making them stand out when in bloom.
⚫︎Habitat Lotuses grow in muddy soil or shallow ponds. Their roots are embedded in the mud, while the stems extend upward through the water, allowing the leaves and flowers to emerge above the surface.
⚫︎Uses The lotus is not only grown for ornamental purposes, but its seeds (lotus seeds) and rhizomes (lotus root) are also used in edible delicacies.
WATER LILY
⚫︎Scientific name Nymphaea spp.
⚫︎Leaves Water lily leaves are relatively small, round in shape, and float on the water surface. The leaf itself is smooth and is not repellent to water.
⚫︎Flowers Water lily flowers are slightly smaller than those of lotuses, and come in a wide variety of colors (white, pink, yellow, blue, etc.). The flowers blossom close to the water surface, although some varieties may rise slightly above the water.
⚫︎Habitat Water lilies grow in calm water (ponds or lakes). Their rhizomes are rooted in the mud, with leaves and flowers floating on the water surface.
⚫︎Uses Water lilies are primarily grown for ornamental purposes in gardens and ponds.
SUMMARY OF MAIN DIFFERENCES
⚫︎Leaf position and shape Lotus leaves rise high above the water surface, while water lily leaves float on the water surface.
⚫︎Flower position and size Lotus flowers are large and bloom high above the water, whereas water lily flowers are relatively smaller and bloom close to or on the water surface.
⚫︎Uses Lotuses are used for both ornamental and edible purposes (seeds and roots), while water lily is primarily ornamental.
Satori Osawa
Founder and Perfumer, Parfum Satori
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⚫︎SUIREN was introduced in the August edition of Precious
Satori Osawa
PARFUM SATORI Founder and Perfumer behind the creation of our perfumes.
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