Originally created for a temporary museum exhibition, never intended to be worn as a personal fragrance, the character of Andrea Maack’s Craft is illusive, dynamic and exciting. With Craft, Andrea Maack created a fragrance for those who want to stand out from the crowd. With its icy, metallic opening, the scent deepens in complexity with the introduction of cedarwood in the middle notes, and a base of earthy patchouli and elemi that anchor the fragrance. Imagine a cold winter morning, it’s 6am, and the only sound around you is the motor of your warming up car. The crisp, clean, icy notes smelling almost metallic against your cold skin until they thaw out.
NOTES
Top: Aldehydes, Ice, Frankincense
Middle: Cold Metal, Cedarwood
Base: Elemi, Patchouli
PERFUMER
Andrea Maack
HOW IT WEARS
Craft is an Eau de Parfum which should gift the wearer a clean, woody wear of at least 6 – 8 hours on the skin. Fresh woods and deep resins all beautifully combined and delicately balanced with the soft aldehydes and ice accord create an intriguing fragrance that’s all kinds of light, clean, deep and calming. It’s dark, earthy undertones are strong and yet gentle on the skin, for a wear that’s lengthy and alluring.
LORE LOVES
We simply adore the way this scent conjures a scene of the Scandinavian outdoors. A landscape where cold, hard ice meets soft powdered snow, an iced lake and open fire are all bordered by a dark, sparsely wooded forest. The snap and crackle of melting sap and burning wood create a soft smoke haze that infuses the backdrop of crisp, cool air. Cool, soft, deep and dark. ‘Tis indeed a smooth and spellbinding craft. Some Beatles singing Norwegian Wood kinda vibes.
ABOUT THE BRAND
Andrea Maack is a Scandinavian luxury fragrance house founded by Icelandic visual artist Andrea Maack.
What started as a series of art exhibitions using scent as a medium has now grown into one of the most sought after and unique brands within the international niche market of perfumes.
The collection of unisex fragrances has been developed with an artistic approach, using the highest quality raw materials, drawing inspiration from Maack’s travels, artistic explorations, and her relationship with her beloved homeland, Iceland.
When the artist first embarked upon her scent journey she posed the question, how do you turn a drawing into a fragrance? It is a mysterious process, by all accounts. Do fragrances have colours? Andrea Maack says they do. Can a fragrance designed to complement a specific artwork stand on its own as a composition? Even without seeing the artwork, these are complex, well-made scents that tell a story.
The striking black bottle and box were designed in collaboration with architect Maddalena Casadei, inspired by the obsidian volcanic rocks found in the Icelandic highlands, with graphic design by art director Tommaso Garner, who interpreted Maack’s original paintings.
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Bon (verified owner) –
It is an unusual fragrance that must have been created in a dream. It marries oceanic, mountain air and delicious fresh dirt, found under the mossiest of stones. I have never been a perfume person and was concerned about the musk element but here I am, reviewing, another first, wrist to nose, fiending.
Lore Team – Brandon –
This scent is witchcraft on the edge of a river on a full moon. Perhaps even one of those night when the moon seems even bigger than usual, or maybe that’s just want the name and scent together evoke in my mind. Andrea’s Craft starts of with a metalic forest note, surrounded in an icyness that draws you inward, looking for warmth. On my skin, it dies down into a gentle aquatic with hints of frankincense. It reminds me of moments I’ve been lost in my own thoughts, except this scent has some frankincense to lure you back along the path and back into your body.
Leah –
Very similar to Bond No.9 Silver Factory but wears less aggressively on the skin. Reminds me of old Russian churches. A beautiful alone time with tarot cards sort of smell. I wouldn’t be wearing this on a date or to work though.
St Elmo Harris –
Incense-y perfumes are my favourites, and this is a beautiful example. Much more subtle than something like CdG’s Avignon or Heeley’s Cardinal, this is actually wearable in the day time, and I suspect might even be doable in the warmer months.
Longevity is excellent (made it through my entire work day, so 7-8 hours) and dry-down beautifully subtle and sweet, retaining that frankincense which has been balanced here expertly with the patchouli (which I normally find too much). Thanks in particular to Clea at Lore for her expert guidance and service 🙂