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CM2 Fragrance Project: Public & Disruptive Art

The Worlds of Scent and Street Art Collide in Charenton Macerations Latest Fragrance Creation

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CM2 Fragrance Project: Public & Disruptive Art

CM2 Fragrance Project: Public & Disruptive Art

CM2 Fragrance Project: Public & Disruptive Art

CM2 Fragrance Project: Public & Disruptive Art

CM2 Fragrance Project: Public & Disruptive Art

The Worlds of Scent and Street Art Collide in Charenton Macerations Latest Fragrance Creation

The Worlds of Scent and Street Art Collide in Charenton Macerations Latest Fragrance Creation

The Worlds of Scent and Street Art Collide in Charenton Macerations Latest Fragrance Creation

The Worlds of Scent and Street Art Collide in Charenton Macerations Latest Fragrance Creation

Douglas Bender
Douglas Bender
Douglas Bender
Douglas Bender
1 Campaign |
Brooklyn, United States
$1,540 USD 24 backers
10% of $15,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Street Dreams: The CM2 Fragrance Project

Following the successful launch of our first fragrance, Christopher Street, Charenton Macerations heads back into the city streets, this time blending our disruptive approach to perfumery with the defiant world of underground street art. Inspired by street art’s ability to distort and transform with time, CM2 is a fragrance that rips the rose apart, scattering its fragmented pieces throughout the urban underground.

Background: From Christopher Street to CM2

Before beginning formulation on our first fragrance, years were spent immersed in life along New York City’s Christopher Street. Fragrance notes were drawn from the area's history and woven together to tell an olfactive narrative built upon the memories of the people and places of the West Village.

Through this ongoing love affair with West Village life, I first stumbled upon some of the original pieces of street art that inspired CM2. I found myself captivated by the world of NYC street art, watching it materialize, multiply, and change all around me. I was enamored with its disruptive nature, fascinated not only by its ability to delight and offend, but also by the tragic elegance of a work of art that is meant to fade away. I became lost in the walls (and posts, and railings, and mailboxes…). 

Distilling Street Art Olfactively

The CM2 Fragrance Project asks the question: what happens when a graffiti artist’s spray cans are replaced with the perfumer's organ of ingredients and applied to our skin? It borrows some of the masterful techniques used by underground street artists (e.g. choices in process, planning and materials) to explore the beauty of olfactive distortion. It is designed to defy preconceptions about everyday materials in perfumery and disrupt expectations of their natural order of progression.

Crafting CM2 was a two year process of building olfactive walls, roughing them up, and then tearing them down; of splashing those walls with aromatic pastes, paints, and other potently odiferous outdoor spoils; of calibrating how the composition twisted, changed, and faded over time. The arc of the fragrance mirrors the life of street art tags: a bold interpretation of a rose accord that distorts and morphs over time, presented as a fragmented flower that dances up walls and down alleyways, until, inevitably, fading to background. 

Distortion

CM2 grew from an initial interest in how street art can distort our sensorial perceptions by bending and blending realities. Certain street art reappropriates the familiar and everyday, with the purpose of crafting a new narrative (like WhisBe’s mashup of Ronald McDonald and Hitler, or Invader’s relocated 8-bit video game iconography). These artists disarm us with nostalgia. They use our emotional attachments to the familiar to provoke and delight. To incorporate this same concept olfactively, CM2 distorts the rose, re-envisioning it as a street art stencil: a skeletal version of its garden-variety self, yet aromatically present enough to remain recognizable. This deceptively familiar accord is further exaggerated by incorporating the lushness of freshly sprayed hyper-colored aerosols. What you think you know of the rose is turned upside down.

Transformation

From simply adding text to a wall, to installing more involved imagery with paint or wheat paste, street artists hijack the original intent of a space and create an opportunity to consider it anew. As auto-tune does with sound, molecular gastronomy with taste, and fetish arts with touch, the best street art transforms our perception of visual space. CM2 sets out to do the same with olfaction, reshaping the rose at the heart of the fragrance through reflections on its surroundings. Leaves brush asphalt. Thorns crack concrete. From its glossy petals to its plumy center, the CM2 rose is pulled apart and splayed open, only to be embedded into its surrounding olfactory walls. Isolated pieces of the rose are captured and transformed.

Impermanence

From conception and design, to execution and eventual disappearance, street art is a performance: a thrilling theatrical adventure showing for a limited time only. Much of street art’s true beauty is revealed in how it ages and changes with the passage of time; how as it is weathered, worn, and even hidden away, it continues to provoke through its connection to other surrounding unexpected moments of beauty. To recreate this effect olfactively, CM2 is constructed so key olfactive pieces disappear and reemerge throughout the scent’s time on one’s skin. Pieces of the rose echo in and out throughout the progression from top to dry, each facet further distorted and transformed along the way.

The CM2 Fragrance

The CM2 fragrance is built upon the skeletal structure of a simple rose accord, which is then fractured and deconstructed. In a sense, the rose is reimagined as a street art stencil, applied to a series of olfactive walls —blended with scents of concrete, metal, and asphalt—to reveal different sides of our fractured flower. To add a few color distortions to the fragrance, other polarizing scent flourishes (e.g. aldehydes, lactones, sulfurs) are incorporated like paint globules splashed across the walls. Throughout the progression of CM2, pieces of the rose fade and reappear, mimicking the ever-changing nature of an outdoor street art tag. The final perfume is a love letter to the street: a roughed up rose that’s been twisted on its head, and nailed to the wall for your olfactive pleasure.

The CM2 Project Collaborators

To help with CM2, I reached out to Careena Melia and Cécile Hua to help me capture the essence of street art olfactively. As a long time performer and fan favorite in Punchdrunk's production of Sleep No More, Careena has firsthand knowledge of working beyond the bounds of the expected. She also employs scent in her character development work, recognizing the effect fragrance has on both her and her audience. Cécile has extensive knowledge of the historical role of distortion in perfumery, and an acute understanding of ingredients that best signal distortion in formulation. My own role was first as ethnographer, documenting different experiences from participating in the street art process, and then, as olfactive interpreter, bringing these experiences back into the lab to help construct a similarly disruptive fragrance. The project also includes insights from dozens of street artists who's work and philosophies will be shared throughout the campaign. 

Douglas Bender (Founder, Charenton Macerations)

Douglas Bender founded Charenton Macerations in 2012. His fascination with the craft of scent began when he took part in a scientific investigation of the unknown contents of ancient Minoan and Mycenaean artifacts. The deconstruction and reconstruction of those fragrant resins opened a door to the world of olfactive storytelling. He has continued his perfumery training, from raw material sourcing to formulation, under the tutelage of many masters in the fragrance field, most notably at Quest International.

Douglas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Philosophy from Vassar College and a Master’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with his partner.

Cécile Hua (Perfumer, Mane USA)

Cécile Hua was born in Marseille to a half French, half Vietnamese family, celebrating a mix of culture and talent: her father a musician, her mother a sculptress, her uncle a photographer, one sister a soprano, and another make up artist. Her environment gave Cécile, at age 7, the inspiration to express her creativity through her own talent: concocting scents.

Her passion for the art of perfumery lies in its craft. Cécile is fascinated by composing something herself with raw materials, infusing it with personality, and sometimes a very personal message. Cécile was the first recipient of the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award for the Fragrance Design category in 2003.

    Her Creations Include:

    • Pink Pepper & Grapefruit (4711 Acqua Colonia)
    • Heritage Collection: Hungary Water (Crabtree & Evelyn)
    • Grand Néroli (Atelier Cologne)
    • Epic (Blackglama)
    • No 6, No 28 & No 35 (Le Cherche Midi)
    • Wink (Lilly Pulitzer)
    • Hard Candy (Hard Candy)
    • Envious (Gendarme)
    • MV3 (MAC Cosmetics)
    • L'Heure Magique (Laura Mercier)

    Careena Melia (Performer)

    Careena Melia is the Grant Wood Fellow in devised theatre at the University of Iowa (2014-2015). Previously, she was employed as a Visiting Professor at the University of Iowa, teaching Voice for Shakespeare and Heightened Text (Fall 2013). Careena has 20 years of professional performance experience spanning the worlds of theatre, dance, film, and television. She created and originated the role of Hecate in Punchdrunk's award winning production of Sleep No More at the American Repertory Theatre as well as for its current New York run. Other Punchdrunk collaborations include the MIT Media Lab/Sleep No More Project, and Minsky's Bar - an immersive event at the MIT Media Lab . Most recently she played Lady Macbeth in Shelter Theatre Group's Macbeth, and Portia in Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles' Merchant of Venice

    Other stage work includes productions with Theatre for a New Audience, The Irish Rep, American Jewish Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Samuel Beckett Center (Ireland) and The Huntington. Her Film and TV credits include roles in Moonlight Mile (with Dustin Hoffman and Jake Gyllenhaal), Songs in Ordinary Time (with Sissy Spacek), JAG, The Good Wife, Touched by an Angel, and Under Hellgate Bridge. Careena received her MFA from American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre at Harvard University. For more about her work, visit careenamelia.com.

    About Charenton Macerations

    At Charenton Macerations, we create fragrances that make a statement. We are committed to olfactive storytelling unencumbered by the antiquated structural constraints and tired gender stereotypes of scent. Our fragrances are not aspirational accessories. They are crafted from the raw emotional experiences of those who encounter them. They flower from the rituals and revolutions of our collective past. They speak using the rich vocabularies of all genders. They are transcendent, irreverent and provocative. Yet they are always incomplete.

    The final ingredient is always you.

    Why Fund The CM2 Project

    In helping to fund CM2, you will be expressing a desire to help us continue challenging the more traditional factions of perfumery by assisting us in crafting and launching a street art inspired fragrance designed to break the olfactive rules. From its atypical structure to its manipulation of the expected, CM2 is all about crossing olfactive boundaries and uncovering new fragrance frontiers.

    In keeping with Charenton Macerations' commitment to crafting fragrances that make a statement, CM2 is an olfactive narrative where the notes are derived directly from the original source of inspiration: the history of street art. CM2 also provides an opportunity to further explore the often debated relationship between the worlds of fragrance and art. With our first scent, Christopher Street, we set out to challenge traditional olfactive gender norms, both creatively and structurally. CM2 continues this idea of the dismantling of structural expectations, this time taking aim at a cornerstone of the perfumer's palette: the rose.

    Charenton Macerations has established a reputation for creating fragrances built upon layers of deeper emotional meaning, and with a meticulous nose for olfactive details born directly from their source materials. Founder, Douglas Bender has developed a successful track record as a crafter of rich olfactive narratives that seek to challenge the more traditional approaches to modern perfumery. Charenton Macerations' perfumes are standouts amongst ‘department store’-style scents. Our fragrances are meant to open doors and introduce you to things different and new. CM2 represents our continued promise to do just that. Funding us is helping us to keep that promise.

    What We Need & What You Get

    We are raising funds to help cover major product and fragrance launch expenses connected to the CM2 Public & Disruptive Art Project. This includes costs associated with the juice, glass, packaging, design, and trademarking of CM2. As CM2 tells the story of global street art, we are aiming for a bigger international push of the fragrance, especially in regards to following the expanding path of this particular olfactive story. We are also looking into producing a few ancillary products, including scratch and sniff stickers, to help further play with concepts of olfactive distortion and street art. Finally, depending on our ability to reach our intended goal, we also hope to use select funds to help cover a few other artistic collaborations tied to the CM2 Project, with moneys used to cover artists' time and materials. 

    In helping fund this project, you will be given the first opportunity to smell and own CM2. We are also offering up a few limited edition items, including a set of isolated fragrance accords and NYC olfactive walking tours. At the upper levels of funding, you will also be given an opportunity to break a few olfactive rules yourself by joining the creative team for the next Charenton Macerations fragrance project: a chance to become completely immersed in the CM process and see its story come to life in real time. 

    Even if we don't reach our intended goal of $15,000, the funds raised can still be used to help cover some necessary expenses required to get the launch process off the ground. We are eternally grateful for any and all contributions pledged.

    Project Risks & Challenges

    As a small independent fragrance company, Charenton Macerations understands there are a few risks and challenges that accompany any new perfume launch. Many of these challenges are lessons learned from the release of our first fragrance, Christopher Street. 

    First is the knowledge that legal costs, especially when finding oneself in a situation of protecting rights to intellectual property, can quickly escalate. For this reason, our budget includes a larger amount set aside to cover any potential legal pitfalls, though this seems less likely to be an issue than with Christopher Street. Tangling with large corporations over rights to IP continues to be perhaps one of the toughest challenges facing smaller companies. Additionally, there are the normal challenges associated with small brands and small production runs. Material costs are always more expensive when purchased in smaller quantities. That, and smaller production runs are also oftentimes bumped or delayed to make room for larger orders. Finally, the success of any fragrance depends on capitalizing on sampling opportunities and traveling to help get the word out (fragrance requires venturing out into the streets to capture people's attention, giving them an opportunity to experience the scent firsthand). The final CM2 launch plan includes allocations and possible alternatives for each of these potential scenarios.

    Other Ways You Can Help

    Even if you cannot contribute financially, there are still ways you can help out:
    • By spreading the word on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Email.
    • By mentioning the CM2 campaign on your Blog or Website.
    • By making use of the other Indiegogo campaign sharing tools.

    I'll be sure to keep you up-to-date on the latest project news through posts on the Charenton Macerations Blog Page and through occasional email updates (sign-up available on our website). Thank you in advance for your support.

    Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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    Choose your Perk

    $5 Off

    $5 USD
    Receive a coupon code good for $5 off of your next purchase at Charenton Macerations.
    0 claimed

    $10 Off

    $10 USD
    Receive a coupon code good for $10 off of your next purchase at Charenton Macerations.
    0 claimed

    Thank You

    $15 USD
    Receive a personal thank you from the CM team that's spritzed in the CM2 scent.
    0 claimed

    First Samples

    $25 USD
    Be one of the first to sample the latest fragrance. Receive a 1ml sample of CM2 AND we'll throw in a sample of Christopher Street as well.
    5 claimed

    Limited Edition Stickers

    $50 USD
    Those giving $50 will receive a pack of limited run of CM2 street art inspired stickers, as well as 1ml samples of CM2 and Christopher Street.
    7 claimed

    Underground Bottle

    $100 USD
    Receive a 30ml bottle of the CM2 fragrance in our traditional leather-wrapped Underground Packaging.
    10 claimed

    Retail Bottle

    $250 USD
    A full sized (50ml) market-sized bottle of CM2 signed by the team and a set of limited edition CM2 stickers.
    0 claimed

    Limited Edition Set of Accords

    $500 USD
    A full sized retail bottle of CM2 PLUS a limited edition set of CM2 lab tester accords. A rare chance to smell the isolated heart of the fragrance.
    0 claimed

    Olfactive Inspiration Walk

    $1,000 USD
    Take a two hour tour through the streets of the West Village. Hear firsthand stories from the development of Christopher Street and CM2. A once in a lifetime chance to experience source materials from both fragrance projects, and directly from the founder of Charenton Macerations. Travel and accommodation in NYC is not included. Tours will be scheduled based on availability of both parties.
    0 claimed

    Influence the Next

    $5,000 USD
    Join the evaluation team for the next CM launch. Receive an early copy of the fragrance brief and help shape the project. It's your chance to become part of the fragrance's story and get a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse at the CM research and development process. Includes fragrance mods from crucial stages of the development process. (Requires signing of a non-disclosure agreement).
    0 claimed
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