Firework

Fireworks don't belong to the night.

This one detonates in full sun — a brilliant, disorienting spectacle that shouldn't exist in daylight but does. It opens with the sharp, metallic bite of gunpowder and the resinous burn of incense, dense and hazy, the way air smells after something has just ignited. Dried tobacco moves through the smoke with a peaty, whiskey-edged warmth. Then, slowly, the heat softens. Sandalwood and guaiacwood settle underneath like embers going quiet, with leather and patchouli grounding the whole thing in something earthy and lasting. The brilliance doesn't fade so much as it stills — a silver tree of fire, caught in daylight, slowly returning to calm.

Notes: Pepper, Olibanum (Frankincense), Myrrh, Gunpowder, Tobacco, Incense, Rum, Orris, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Leather, Guaiacwood

Founded in 2017, Aromag is a fragrance brand that creates perfumes inspired by Chinese culture and aesthetics. The name Aromag blends ‘aroma’ and ‘magazine’, reflecting China’s scholarly perfume tradition. In Chinese, it’s called 岩兰 (Yán Lán), evoking vetiver and rock-dwelling orchids.

Aromag’s philosophy emphasizes ‘blank space’ and ‘restraint’ in fragrance creation, aiming to revive Eastern-style elegance. This approach results in perfumes that are uniquely rooted in Chinese cultural traditions while embodying a sense of quiet sophistication.

• Maxime Exler