Feedback indicated the previous version felt too clinical and sterile. This update installs a suite of natural materials to introduce organic complexity and "breath" to the formula.

• Floral Heart Expansion: Added Rose Absolute (Turkey). This creates a dense, rich center to the fragrance, contrasting against the watery top notes. Introduced Ho Wood Oil and Verbena to bridge the gap between the synthetic ozone and the heavy rose.

• Aromatic Layering: Implemented Clary Sage Oil (France) to add a herbal, tea-like facet. Added trace amounts of Oakmoss and Siam Benzoin to create a subtle earth texture in the base.

• Balancing: Drastically reduced Linalool concentration. The previous soapy texture was overpowering the new natural oils. Reduced Watermelon Ketone (Calone) intensity. The aquatic notes were dialed back to allow the new floral density to occupy the center stage.

Don't let the name Watermelon Ketone fool you, it doesn't smell like a watermelon.

The Floral direction of previous versions was deemed too soft and cosmetic. This update re-aligns the fragrance toward a drier, more rugged profile suitable for the 1996 concept.

• Spice Injection: Introduced Zingerone. This adds a sharp, ginger-like heat that cuts through the sweetness of the vanilla and rose.

• Woody Dominance: Clary Sage and Cedarwood Virginia have been significantly amplified. These are now the dominant Main Character notes. The profile has shifted from Floral/Aquatic to Aromatic/Woody.

• Floral Reduction: Rose Absolute has been relegated to a background supporting role. It now functions as a texture rather than a distinct note. Verbena and Ho Wood were slightly reduced to maintain focus on the Cedarwood.

Note: This experimental build attempted to strip the fragrance to its barest essentials. The results were mixed.

• The "Transparent" Shift: Aggressively increased Methyl Dihydrojasmonate and Zingerone. This created a hyper-transparent, sharp, and spicy profile.
• Component Removal: Watermelon Ketone was reduced to near-zero levels. Cedarwood and Clary Sage were cut in half.
• Outcome Analysis: The removal of the aquatic and heavy wood notes resulted in a jagged, harsh profile. The scent lost the nostalgic comfort associated with the original concept. This build has been flagged for immediate rollback.

Following the unstable previous experiments, the formula has been reverted to a more stable architecture with final optimizations for clarity and balance.

• Restoration of Identity: Watermelon Ketone has been restored to previous stable levels. The essential 90s Aquatic signature is back. Cedarwood and Clary Sage have been returned to their dominant positions in the hierarchy.

• Final Tuning: Zingerone (Spice) has been tamed back down to a supporting whisper, providing warmth without stinging. Linalool and Aldehydes have been locked in for the perfect ratio of freshness to depth.

• System Status: The fragrance now successfully merges the electric, synthetic energy of the 90s in the first few versions with the sophisticated natural grit of the woods in our latest versions.

Like many of us, my journey into the world of scent began with the classic sins of youth. I still remember the thick clouds of Axe Body Spray in locker rooms after gym class, followed by the ubiquitous trail of CK One that defined an entire era. At the time, I didn't realize these early scents were just the prologue to a lifelong obsession.

Driven by curiosity, I soon moved beyond the mainstream. I began exploring the complex olfactive architectures of houses that fascinated me: the sophistication of YSL, the boldness of Dior, and especially the artistic, crystalline work of Lalique. It was within these worlds that I realized perfume wasn't just an accessory to smell good, but a silent language capable of expressing what words cannot.

In 2019, what had been a fascination turned into a craft. I started composing my own niche fragrances in my workshop. Initially for myself, and then for my close circle of friends. Seeing their reactions and the bonds we formed by discussing and reimagining my creations sparked an idea.

That is how Atelier La Lacune was born in Montreal in 2025. My fragrances are designed to be discreet and intimate. Designed to be true skin-scents that act as a second skin. They aren't meant to scream or invade social spaces; they are meant to invite a closer look. They are stories I create for myself. La Lacune is an invitation to join the conversation.

The initial prototype demonstrated high volatility and a lack of structural integrity on the skin. The focus of this update was to establish a lasting base layer without compromising the "Ozone" concept.

• Base Layer Implementation: Introduced Iso E Super to the core architecture. This material was selected to provide a diffusive, velvet-like texture that extends the longevity of the top notes. Added Sandalore to smooth out the rough edges of the synthetic aquatic notes. Integrated Alpha-methylene citronellal to support the transition from top to heart notes.

• Fixative Adjustments: Significantly increased the concentration of Ethyl Vanillin. This provides a warmer, more persistent dry-down that anchors the fragrance to the skin. Linalool levels were raised to boost the initial "freshness" impact, though this may require tuning in future updates.

• Deprecations:Bergamot Oil has been removed from the formula. Stability testing showed it conflicted with the new synthetic base, turning sour after 2 hours of wear.

The initial concept was raw, loud, and intentionally aggressive. The goal was a "revolutionary" citrus scent that felt chaotic. It was built around a massive overdose of Mandarin and Grapefruit colliding with a sharp, medicinal Lavender. A leather note was put in there with the plan to balance it eventually. That being said, it lacked a proper base and relied entirely on high-impact top notes. It smelled like a riot. Exciting, but exhausting to wear.

The Alpha build was deemed too abrasive for daily wear. The aggressive citrus core was scrapped, and the scent was rebuilt from the ground up, focusing on elegance, transparency, and modern textures.

The Demolition & Foundation

• Removed: Grapefruit Pentanol was deleted entirely. It was found to be conflicting with the smoother direction.
• Removed: Veramoss (Oakmoss) was temporarily disabled. The forest floor noise needed to be cleared to focus on the musk structure first.
• New Architecture: Introduced Cetalox (a modern ambergris note) and Carrot Seed to the base. This completely changed the texture from "sharp/acidic" to smooth/earthy.
• The Lavender Fix: The Spike Lavender was far too medicinal in the Alpha. Volume was slashed significantly to make it a subtle herbal accent rather than a main theme.

• New Heart Note: Added Ho Wood to introduce a clean, woody-floral bridge between the bright top notes and the new earthy base.
• Transparency Boost: Drastically increased Methyl Dihydrojasmonate (the transparency molecule). This opened up the scent, making it feel radiant and airy rather than dense.
• The Citrus Nerf: Mandarin was dialed way back. In the Alpha, it was suffocating the other notes; now it sits politely at the top.
• Saffron Reduction: Saffron intensity was lowered. The leathery/spicy note was clashing with the new clean vibe, so it was tucked into the background.

The previous update was beautiful, but too polite. The grit and punch of the original Alpha were missing. This is a hybrid. It keeps the sophisticated structure of previous versions but brings back some of the aggressive freshness.

The Grit Restoration

• Saffron Buff: The scent had lost its edge, so Saffron presence was more than doubled. This brings back a leathery, spicy bite that cuts through the cleanliness.
• Orris Boost: Significantly buffed the Orris (Iris) Replacer. This adds a powdery, buttery luxury that makes the scent feel expensive and grounded.
• Veramoss Returns: Veramoss (Oakmoss) re-enabled. This was the missing piece needed to give the scent that chypre-like forest finish it had in the beginning.
• Texture Adjustment: The combination of Saffron, Orris, and Moss has created a textured feel, removing the "soapy" smoothness of the previous version.

• Mandarin Recovery: Mandarin volume was brought back up. The "sweet spot" was found where it provides energy and joy without being annoying or screechy.
• Aquatic Tuning: Cascalone (fresh/watery notes) was slightly reduced. With the Orris and Saffron taking up more space, less watery lift was required.
• Stability Fix: The transparency molecules were tuned down slightly. This helps "solidify" the formula so it doesn't feel too ghostly or fleeting.
• Final Polish: The ratio between the floral Ho Wood and the herbal Lavender is now locked in for perfect harmony.

Final Verdict

La Commune started as a chaotic riot and evolved into an organized movement. It is now a sophisticated, spicy citrus-iris scent with a distinct leather earthiness. A hotel lobby in a bottle and a leather scent for summer.

The initial design was created as a high-density comfort scent. The structure was simplistic, relying on a massive block of heavy Musk materials combined with Ho Wood and Vanilla.

• Profile: Extremely thick and opaque.
• Function: Operated more as a heavy background layer than a complete, breathing perfume.

Opening the Structure

The thickness of the original version was found to be overwhelming, causing the scent to smell flat very quickly. This update focused on breaking up the solid block of musk to allow light and air into the formula.

Musk Reduction: The primary heavy musk component was cut significantly. The heavy blanket effect was found to be suffocating the delicate citrus notes.

Texture Shift: To replace the lost volume from the musk, the Creamy Sandalwood and Vanilla notes were increased.

Result: The texture shifted from a dry, powdery musk to a smoother, fluid creaminess.

New Addition: A transparent, jasmin-like, airy material was introduced. This lifts the heavy vanilla and prevents it from feeling like sludge.

Spiciness Added: Pepper notes were added to the formula to introduce a dry, grainy spice that contrasts against the sweet, creamy background.

Citrus Tuning: The Clementine note was dialed back. With the heavy musk gone, the citrus became too sharp and required softening to match the new creamy woods.

Wood Focus: Ho Wood was increased to become the dominant heart note, reinforcing the "Wood" aspect of the original name.

While the previous version achieved better balance, it still lacked a sparkle or distinctive character in the final stages. This update introduced modern amber materials to create a glowing, solar effect.

Modernizing the Base

• New Ingredient: Cetalox (Ambergris) was introduced to the base to add a saline, mineral, skin-like quality.
• Musk Adjustment: The heavy musk was reduced even further. The formula moved away from heavy powder toward clean skin textures.
• Citrus Recovery: The Clementine levels were slightly increased. The addition of the Ambergris allowed the citrus to be brighter without becoming screechy.

This is a tough one.

Airiness Doubled: The concentration of the transparent air notes was doubled. This critical adjustment transforms the scent from a heavy dessert-like smell into a radiant, glowing musk.

Texture Refinement: The Aldehydes were locked in. This provides the necessary peel texture to the orange note, keeping it realistic rather than candy-like.

Final Balance: The Vanilla and Base Musk were slightly adjusted downward to make room for the new expanding radiant notes.

On spray on the wrist still makes you smell from across the room.

Solaris V
The formula reached stability with the third iteration. No further ingredient changes are required, only a bit of balancing. The project was renamed to reflect its final character: radiant, warm, and expansive.

Final Status:

• Profile: The scent now functions as a luminous Solar musk rather than a heavy Cream scent.
• Clarity: High transparency was achieved; the individual notes are now distinct.
• Longevity: Lasting power is maintained through Sandalwood and Vanilla, despite the removal of the heavy musk block. I will still explore reducing the vanilla drastically, it over powers the scent at the 2-3 hour mark.
• Identity: Officially rebranded from Cream Wood Orange to Solaris V. I'll miss the initialism of CWO but SOLARIS V represents it more as of now.