When I created Monserrat, my second fragrance for a gallery show, I wanted to challenge myself. How could I reimagine a fruity-floral scent for grown-ups without resorting to candy-sweet notes?

The answer came to me through Italian frescoes—those sun-faded murals painted directly onto wet plaster. I even named the fragrance after a soft apricot-orange paint color from the Williamsburg Paint Company.

The heart of Monserrat is osmanthus absolute. It's tricky to work with—delightfully apricot-like but with an earthy undertone that needs careful balancing. This subtle earthiness grounds the fragrance, making it feel real and human.

As I developed Monserrat, I imagined strolling through Mediterranean art galleries on a warm summer day, the scent of ripe fruit mingling with sun-warmed stone. It became more than just a perfume, it's a bottled memory of carefree, artful summers.

Pink grapefruit, green leaves, carrot seed, osmanthus, jasmine, white musk, setting plaster.

Late spring. Summer. Warm evenings. Aperitif on the the terrace. Sunday in the Park. Sun-dappled shade.