The latest scent from masters of natural perfume, Abel, is quite simply not what you would expect. Darker, moodier and smokier than what many would typically associate with the botanical reputation of natural perfumery, Abel’s newest eau de parfum, Black Anise, has been created to challenge expectations.

Made by a creative partnership that spans over a decade of working with naturals together, Abel Founder Frances Shoemack and Master Perfumer Isaac Sinclair were determined to break category conventions and show that natural perfume can be daring, dark, and sultry.

“When we launched Abel, the mission was to reinvent natural perfume, to rid it of its 1970s patchouli hangover and show that in pairing unique combinations of ingredients with innovative biotech, naturals can be distinct, modern and elevated. In the last few years, we’ve seen a broader range of conscious consumers seeking alternative perfumes, but they’re searching for – something more chic and nuanced than what is usually found in plant-based perfumery. Black Anise is our boldest challenge to natural conventions yet. It will appeal to those exact customers at- tracted to the non-toxic ingredient palette but looking for a scent profile that is rich, strong and dare I say it, sexy. I truly think Black Anise will shift those who’ve decided against a natural perfume before in their tracks and make them think twice.”
Frances Shoemack

The scent:

“As in any creative pursuit, there comes a time when you find yourself wanting to push the boundaries, to see if you can play right at the edges and surprise everyone. Naturals have an (often misguided) reputation for being simple, subtle and organic smelling. While every ingredient in Black Anise is natural, the very deliberate selection of dense, powerful notes such as tobacco and star anise and their pairing with a rich fruit accord of cherry and cassis makes for a dynamic, long-lasting and distinctive scent. “
Isaac Sinclair

In introducing Black Anise to their core fragrance collection of seven scents, Abel will, as part of their strict ‘one in, one out’ philosophy, remove the 2017 addition Grey Labdanum from production.

‘We’re very intentional in what we create. The very reason we work with naturals is to mini- mize toxicity to us and the environment. The planet is already overwhelmed with ‘stuff’. It’s a core founding principle that whenever we release something new into the collection, it must be good enough to replace an existing favourite. It forces us to slow down, really deliver excellence, and minimize excess. While it’s always sad to see a perfume go, the Grey Labdanum fans loved it for its edginess, and we expect them to be drawn to the rule-breaking attitude of Black Anise in the same way.‘
Frances Shoemack

A vibrant, smoky Amber with star anise top notes, a black currant and cacao heart, and a tobacco base, Black Anise is available in 50mL and 15mL eau de parfum from April 20th at abelodor.com and from Abel’s selection of global stockists spanning over 25 countries.