For Façades: Stories Unseen - a collective exhibition of self-portraiture by 50 Western Australian photographers exploring what sits beneath the surface of creative life - The Second Salon produced a bespoke aromatic blend for the opening night.
A project in collaboration with Dan Agostino. Exhibition opening at Fridays Studio.
These elements were chosen because they mirror the qualities that define the artists in this room.
Aroma is invisible and intangible, and while it remains unseen, it is never not felt. The Facades blend was built on deep, grounding base notes, a strong middle, and one complex, uplifting lighter note. My intention was to mirror the qualities of the talent in the room while creating the conditions for everyone else to slow down, stay present, and notice what sits underneath the surface.
There are six elements in total, and as with all aromatic blends the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Petitgrain comes from the bitter orange tree - the same tree that gives us Orange essential oil from the fruit and Neroli essential oil from the blossoms. That origin makes it hard to place: it can read as a floral, a citrus or a wood. This delightfully complex oil is the lightest in the blend. It feels safe and quietly hopeful.
Frankincense has been used across traditions for thousands of years for its ability to quiet the mind. It smells earthy, resinous and spicy-sweet with, a fresh mineral undertone. Here, it supports the conditions for making space and allowing for reflection.
Cedarwood Atlas moves through two distinct registers - a camphoraceous top note that then settles into a sweet, woody-balsamic warmth underneath. It adds a sense of steadiness and its dry, grounded body helps the composition hold its shape.
Cypress is tall, long-lived and slow-growing, and the oil carries exactly that quality. It smells clean, woody and fresh. It helps the mind settle.
Amyris is gooey like honey and gives a soft, creamy undertone. The first of two fixatives. It rounds the edges and holds the blend together. While it’s not immediately obvious, you’d notice if it wasn’t there.
Vetiver essential oil is other-worldly - smoky, viscous and dark. Vetiver comes from the root system of a tall tufted grass, not a wood as is often assumed. Vetiver is the other fixative in the blend, the deepest note here and the most stabilising.
About The Second Salon…
The Second Salon has always been about giving beautiful humans (you) a cushion. A comfort. A safe place to land. About helping you create your own spaces. More about The Second Salon.
