Discover the story behind the scent of Chapter 1 - Ichor
Ichor Note List
Beginning Note
Mandarin
The Dawn of the Final Day
Bright mandarin evokes the fiery sunrise over the plains of Troy, the morning on which the duel will occur.
- The orange horizon against bronze armor.
- The clarity of purpose as Achilles returns to the battlefield.
Mandarin symbolizes the inevitable march of the sun toward tragedy.
Beginning Note
Cardamom
The Breath of the Gods
Cardamom is the fragrant presence of the divine it represents:
- Athena’s guidance of Achilles.
- Apollo abandoning Hector in his final moment.
The essence of gods, it shows that the duel is not merely mortal combat, but a moment touched by Olympus.
Beginning Note
Black Pepper
The Clash of Blades
Sharp and biting, black pepper embodies the ferocity of combat. It represents:
- Shields buckling under spear strikes.
- The heat and friction of two unmatched warriors colliding.
It is the pungent spark of adrenaline and violence, cutting through all softer notes.
Middle Note
Benzoin
The Smoke of the Funeral Pyre
Warm, resinous benzoin symbolizes what unites the two warriors in death:
- The pyre of Patroclus.
- The later pyre of Hector, mourned by a city and a father.
Benzoin is the incense of mourning, the sweet smoke that rises to the gods carrying honor, grief, and release.
Middle Note
Lavender
The Calm Before Shields Clash
Lavender represents the deceptive stillness as Achilles and Hector stand poised for their confrontation.
- The hush of Troy’s walls as the city watches.
- Hector’s last measured breath as he steels himself.
Lavender softens the chaos, capturing the tense, sacred quiet that precedes fate’s final strike.
Middle Note
Nutmeg
The Spark of Wrath
Nutmeg’s warm spice symbolizes the moment the story turns. It represents:
- Patroclus dying beneath Hector’s spear.
- Achilles’ grief igniting into uncontainable rage.
It is the ember that grows into Achilles’ legendary wrath against hector, sharp, hot, irreversible.
Ending Note
Amber
The Glow of Heroic Destiny
Amber, warm and ancient, represents the golden fate that surrounds both warriors long before their weapons cross.
- It symbolizes the divine thread spun by the Fates.
- For Achilles, it is the radiance of prophecy; the short life filled with eternal glory.
- For Hector, it is the quiet warmth of duty and familial loyalty.
Amber becomes the base of the story just as it is the largest base of this scent: a reminder that destiny has already begun to smolder.
Ending Note
Vanilla
The Illusion of Peace
Vanilla’s soft, comforting aura evokes the fleeting hope that the war might end before the duel becomes inevitable. It represents:
- Achilles' Mother offering wisdom.
- The memory of hearth, home, and what exists beyond the battlefield.
It is the echo of gentleness in a story fated to turn violent.
Ending Note
Tonka Bean
The Humanity Beneath the Armor
Sweet and earthy, tonka bean reflects the human moments that make the tragedy painful. It represents:
- Hector removing his helm to soothe his infant son, Astyanax.
- Achilles’ fragile humanity exposed in his grief for Patroclus.
Tonka bean grounds the myth in mortality, the sweetness of life that both men are about to lose.
OWN
THE
MYTH