"Akrame talked a lot about the color black, about smoky and burnt flavors, which play an important part in his cooking. He also mentioned his connection to incense, a natural raw material that was a logical choice for the composition. It takes center stage in Adorem, where it is used in overdose. I chose a specific type: Vulcain Incense, which has a smoky profile. To make it more accessible, I wrapped it in a cocoa absolute, which gives it roundness and softness, what I’d be tempted to call a fleshy dimension, and a vanilla infusion, which adds a delicate touch. For the top note, I used the freshness and potency of SFE incense (i.e., a CO2 extract), along with pink pepper and elemi to bring tension and a certain verticality to the composition. Then there’s the woody base, dominated by patchouli and cedar, which draws out the note’s somewhat dense, dark aspect. It’s a simple construction with very few ingredients. But keeping it simple is always complicated!"
