Entry 07 — Maquis

Mediterranean Vegitation

Maquis is not a single scent.

It is a landscape.

Dry herbs under sun.
Heated air carrying fragments of vegetation.

Nothing isolated,
everything dispersed.

A composition formed by exposure.

 

Structure

Maquis refers to the natural vegetation found in Mediterranean regions.

It is composed of wild plants —
thyme, rosemary, cistus, and other low-growing shrubs.

In perfumery, it is not extracted as a single material,
but reconstructed as an accord.

A combination of herbal, dry and resinous elements
that evoke a place rather than a note.

 

Profile

Its profile is fragmented,
shifting between multiple facets.

  • Herbal — aromatic, slightly sharp
  • Dry — exposed, almost brittle
  • Green — but sun-warmed rather than fresh
  • Resinous — sap-like, slightly dense
  • Mineral — heat absorbed by stone

A scent shaped by climate,
rather than composition alone.

 

Behavior in Space

Maquis does not settle.

It moves with the air.

It expands unevenly,
appearing and disappearing depending on circulation.

Unlike vetiver which grounds,
or sandalwood which diffuses evenly,
maquis remains unstable —
defined by movement and variation.

 

In Composition

Maquis is built through contrast.

Dry herbs introduce sharpness,
while resins and woods add depth.

This tension between volatility and structure
creates a living composition —
one that does not fully resolve.

It often acts as a bridge between green and woody families.

 

Application

Maquis is suited to spaces that require openness
without emptiness.

It introduces texture into air,
without closing it.

  • daytime interiors
  • open spaces
  • transitional environments
  • spaces with airflow

 

OPEN

In OPEN,
maquis is approached as expansion.

Dry herbs move across the space,
carried by heat and air.

Resin and pale wood release slowly,
leaving traces rather than presence.

A state defined by outward awareness.

Maquis is a dry, herbal and resinous scent inspired by Mediterranean vegetation, commonly used in candles and perfumery to create an open and natural atmosphere.