Rook ‘Moments’ – the niche house encouraging creative togetherness

ROOK PERFUMES are the perfect meeting place between art and science – with more than a little rock ‘n roll in their DNA. Launched by a frontline doctor/actor (yes, really), Nadeem Crowe, who became enraptured with the world of perfumery,he’s now reaching out to other creatives and asking YOU to share your talents with the world…

‘No one could have expected coronavirus, nor could anyone expect the impact it would have on businesses worldwide,’ says Nadeem, ‘The creative industry is struggling, with projects put on hold and freelance designers, artists and creatives scampering for remaining work. The government support for the self employed has been a slow-burn leaving artists in a creative limbo with financial uncertainty.’

Nadeem has a unique position with insight in the medical and creative worlds, explaining that ‘I feel lucky to be a doctor in a time where people are isolated and struggling financially. I have a job and wonderful colleagues around me. Even if I do feel exposed, I realise I am in a very fortunate position as I watch friends I have shared the West End stage with lose their jobs and struggle to support themselves and their families.’

 

 

After a long discussion with famed British photographjer, Rankin, ‘who as a creative can relate to this situation as much as anyone, it was clear that what we could do was use this time of conflict to create a piece of art. A social statement.’ Nadeem and Rankin wanted to start an online movement – ‘a conversation to get these creatives talking’.

And so Rook Moments was born, ‘asking fellow creatives and people of the community to discuss who they are, what they are missing out on and the limitations corona is putting on their creativity and in some cases livelihood.’ From actors, to photographers, designers, and directors – they say that ‘these are stories that need to be heard…’ Asking fellow creatives to upload short videos of themselves, Nadeem urges, ‘Show us you talent or skill. Sing, dance, recite a monologue, play an instrument – do whatever drives you creatively!’

This isn’t a competition with some reality show judging panel – this is real life, a snapshot of creative people, inspired by fragrance or simply sharing whatever talent you have in a Rook Moment of your own, and for the love of art itself.

Some further suggestions, and instructions how to submit your videos, are available on the Rook Moments section of their website, but if you’re really seeking creative inspo, can we recommend you immerse yourself in the delights of the Rook Perfumes Discovery Set?

 

Rook Perfumes Discovery Set £15

Created by Nadeem to transport you via textural, intriguingly overlapping scent memories of verdant forests, drifts of incense, leathery birch-tar; fascinatingly visceral sensations of herb gardens and wet earth – we wonder where you’ll be taken, and urge you to share your own creative journey…

By Suzy Nightingale

S&X – Azzi Glasser & iconic photographer Rankin collude for a steamy scent, captured on film right here. Happy hump day…!

When iconic photographer Rankin met with fragrance designer Azzi Glasser to collaborate on the suggestively named S&X fragrance for The Perfumer’s Story collection, sparks were always going to fly; but prepare to ditch a layer of clothing as you get hot under the collar watching the ultra-steamy – and totally beautiful – accompanying video (scroll down to view)…
Azzi said; ‘Provocative, fearless and wild, S&X combines a hedonistic symphony of notes that tell the story of the touch of bodies, the beauty of skin on skin and above all lasting memories. I wanted to capture the smell of S&X as if it was taken through the eyes of Rankin and his lens, creating and producing his scented vision as a DNA print through my nose.’
As Rankin says about the honesty of his portraits, ‘It’s fleeting desire captured in an image. It’s not falling in love, but it’s like falling in love. It’s not sex, but it’s like sex. It’s a relationship compressed into a moment.’
Rankin adds, ‘As a photographer and director, I work in a world of sight and sound. Quite often my subject matter can involve touch and taste, (whether risqué or innocently). So smell can feel like the forgotten sense. Yet it is one that totally fascinates me. I’ve always loved fragrances and have wanted to do one for years. When I met Azzi, we just hit it off. We approach what we do in very similar ways: getting to know our subjects, tapping into their personalities and how they want to present themselves to the world. In the same way I aim to capture life in a single moment, so does Azzi. I am fascinated by how she took the more suggestive, sensorial aspects of photography and bottled them. S&X is provocative, naughty and humorous. I love it.’

If all that tussling of bodies has left you rather breathless, close your eyes and allow us to metaphorically fan you with the scent itself. A luminous amber at first, the pepper soars skywards as olibanum, castoreum and leather are boosted with the creamy lushness of jasmine and magnolia blossoms. With Earl Grey tea and elemi oil resting on a base of precious wood, white musk and patchouli – it certainly smells sexy to us, and what you do while wearing it is entirely up to you…
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The Perfumer’s Story S&X £95 for 30ml eau de parfum
Buy it at Harvey Nichols
Written by Suzy Nightingale