Jan Barba: Literary Art portrayed in fragrances

Hello, Fragrant Friend 👋,

Did you know? 103 years ago (May 5, 1921), Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel released the world’s most iconic perfume — Chanel No. 5. (This was the very first Scently Speaking issue.)

🗓️ Contents of this Issue

1. Story: Interview with Bart Puzio (perfumer of Jan Barba)
2. Author’s Choice: The most beautiful bottles of all time?
3. Fragrance picks: Mimosa Absolute & Hedione

Story: Bart Puzio (Jan Barba) 🇵🇱

An interview with Bart Puzio, brand owner and creative nose behind Jan Barba, a young Polish label in Warsaw established in 2015. He got into cosmetics while studying in the UK, drawn to natural ingredients, and launched his first fragrance in 2018. “Jan Barba” doesn’t exist — barba means “beard” in Italian, evoking an old herbalist gathering herbs in the forest.

He develops the brand further with each scent, starting from an idea and a list of ingredients, using Pinterest mood boards. He likes to kick off new creations in January–February when Poland’s cold, odourless air helps him focus. AIYOKU (2020) was inspired by Alex Kerr’s Lost Japan — fresh, citrus opening into grassy, mossy, earthy and woody depths, evoking cedar-wood houses. His favourite ingredients to work with: Mimosa Absolute or Hedione.

Author’s Choice 👆️

James Turrell’s work for Lalique (2022), celebrating their 100th anniversary in Alsace — two bottles for “Range Rider” and “Purple Sage,” limited to 100 each at €25,000.

Fragrance Picks 🤌

Mimosa Absolute — natural (Acacia dealbata), floral family, delicate, powdery and honeyed; pairs with jasmine, violet and vanilla (ref. Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Mimosa Bloom). Hedione® — synthetic (Firmenich), floral family, fresh, clean and jasmine-like; discovered accidentally in the 1950s by Edouard Demole (ref. Escentric Molecules Escentric 02).