Aesop commissions synesthete Jack Coulter for Above Us, Steorra fragrance painting
Artist creates abstract interpretation using dark greys, blacks and copper hues inspired by new Eau de Parfum
Aesop has commissioned Jack Coulter, the artist with synaesthesia, to create a painting inspired by their new fragrance Above Us, Steorra. For Coulter, aromas evoke memories, emotions, and can be perceived as colours, making him the perfect artist to translate scent into visual art.
Aesop presents its latest olfactory creation, Above Us, Steorra, a bold Eau de Parfum drawing inspiration from the night sky and non-compliance. Named after the ancient English word meaning "star", this fragrance reinvents amber's sweetness by highlighting rich woods and resins rather than following conventional sweet profiles.
The fragrance emerged from perfumer Céline Barel's visit to an Aesop store, where she drew inspiration from the atmosphere to create something that transcends conventions. Cardamom plays a central role with its pronounced spicy note, bringing vibrant intensity that evokes a shooting star's incandescent glow.
Coulter's latest work presents an abstract interpretation using dark grey, black-toned colours and copper hues that reflect the fragrance's complex notes. His synaesthetic response to Above Us, Steorra demonstrates how scent can translate into powerful visual language, creating one of perfumery's most avant-garde artistic collaborations in recent years.
Link to see the installation
Inspiration by Mark