Karst Aēsop 2021

A broody, overcast ocean breeze. The cypress bluffs of Big Sur meets the black sand of Reynisfjara. Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (by Caspar David Friedrich). I want to open a wellness resort on Dragonstone and pipe this scent into the chambers. It’s aromatic, but not spicy. Marine, but not briny. The juniper and sage haze into a spa-time green, while the bergamot and pink pepper create the illusion of salt air. There’s a mineral vein to Karst that feels very… igneous? (Source: my second-grade rock collection). Pity Karst fades faster than the morning marine layer, a recurring tragedy in the house of Aesop.

Mental Snapshot: Black crags of volcanic rock pitched along a steely sea. You’re a sea lion or a sea otter or some breed of selkie flitting through kelp forests and cliffside grottos. You peer up at the silvery mists pooling over the clifftop trees, an inverted ocean to your own.

tl;dr: I am now craving raw uni

My gateway to the Aesop world was Marrakech Intense Eau de Parfum, which was one of those scents that as soon as it reaches your nostrils, you know it`s meant to be in your collection. Aesop stores are popping up all over the world, but in Japan the sales clerks gatekeep fragrances like they`re golden eggs, you just can`t touch or apply anything yourself, and the spray you get comes with a lot of conversation I don`t really want or need, a modest spray that sometimes barely lasts long enough for me to still inhale any molecules as I gently make my way away from the chatty sales staff. So I ordered the discovery set, but so far only this briny aquatic has touched my heart. Karst is a strong breeze on a stormy sea that somehow smells calm and clean, a paradox. The salt feels as though it`s been purified and you can see the few drops of sunlight streaking through the clouds reflected in the little sand and sodium crystals. The herbs are clean and bring to mind coastal shrubbery fighting its way against the tides. A clean smelling, evocative aquatic.

I was in Hamburg last (extended) weekend, a city that I simply love, my secret longing place - as far as a person from Cologne can admit. Normally, I am always wandering around the individual districts that are not in the immediate city center (in Cologne, we would say "in the Veedeln"), but this time I felt drawn to the hustle and bustle at Jungfernstieg, more specifically to the Alsterhaus - because of the impressive selection of fragrances. I spent a good 2 hours inside, spraying here and there, and by the end, I didn’t know which way was up. I had sprayed two rather expensive fragrances on my right and left wrist for the final selection and went outside for a round through the city to see how they developed on my skin. Normally, I don’t buy expensive fragrances at first sniff, but order something here in the souk. One of the fragrances was out of the running after just an hour, while I kept sniffing the other one thoughtfully, and when I returned to Alsterhaus, it was clear: if I am so unsure, then the answer is no. The thought of leaving empty-handed, even though there was so much selection, frustrated me.

But having come to terms with that thought, and feeling a bit proud for not giving in to the urge, I walked once more across the department towards the exit. Then I saw the Aēsop stand. I knew the brand somewhat as a high-priced, surely somewhat hyped company for skincare products. I had once received a skin cream as a gift that I remembered fondly. In any case, I saw the fragrances lined up in their (to me) beautiful, simple, and clean brown bottles and had to give them a go. Until then, I didn’t even know that the company made perfumes. I must admit, to my shame, that the appearance of the bottle is also a certain weak spot for me :)

In any case, I liked the look so much that I tested all (10 or however many) of them. There were several that I liked, but I fell in love with Karst at first sniff, even though that has often backfired (especially in my early days). I am more of a passive member here, even though I really test a lot, etc., but due to my passivity, I also lack the vocabulary to describe this fragrance, especially regarding its ingredients. What I felt, however, was simply a maritime note (the maritime aspect is what I love about Hamburg among other things), a simultaneous warmth, a sense of security, an aura. Fine spiciness, very distinctive and something I had never smelled before. Not a beast, rather a meditative cloud. I know that this doesn’t help in terms of a vivid description, but what I want to say is: something absolutely special for me, something I have been searching for a long time, a fragrance for me and not for others. I bought it immediately (also because time was running short) and on the way home (or rather to the vacation apartment) I almost developed buyer's remorse. At home, during an extensive test, the relief came: it still feels right. I believe I have discovered a fragrance brand in Aēsop that I will definitely follow up on, as there were still 2 or 3 others that also appealed to me. Due to the uniform bottle design, the relatively hard-to-remember names, and my clumsiness (not written down), I will surely be sniffing through them again soon - there is also an Aēsop shop in Cologne. But until then, I will enjoy and relax in my Karst clouds.

That's exactly how this incredible fragrance smells to me!
It has everything I hope for in a scent and definitely has signature potential.

It is fresh and marine, and at the same time, it has a warmth from the woodiness, beautifully rounded off with the herbs.
Very complex and interesting, I have never smelled anything like this before.
For me, the most beautiful Aesop.

The world of fragrances is still quite new to me. It all started when I happened to be in an Aesop store and tried out the different perfumes. I was immediately fascinated. Especially two scents captivated me: Virere and Karst. I had never experienced anything like it before. It felt like entering a completely new world.

Like a child in a candy store, I then plunged into this world, ordered countless samples, and discovered one beautiful scent after another. Always on the hunt for the "perfect" perfume … and I catch myself comparing all these fragrances to Karst. I can't get enough of this scent. I find it very difficult to describe fragrances, but when I think about what makes an ideal scent for me, it should evoke that feeling in me that I get from Karst.

Karst is an incredibly beautiful and so far unique fragrance for me. The combination of freshness, herbs, and citrus is perfectly balanced; no component pushes itself to the forefront. With other scents of this kind, it quickly becomes too sweet or too dominant (or too boring) for me, but here the harmony is just right. It would be my signature and everyday scent, if it weren't for one crucial point: the longevity. Like with Virere, it is unfortunately quite limited, which disappoints me quite a bit (especially considering the price).

So I continue to search for a fragrance that evokes a similar reaction but lasts longer on the skin. However, I will probably still regularly return to Karst in the meantime.