Rare Bastard. Alone in the Hangar

Sep 28

2 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

archive fragrance

Story

Albert built motorcycles. He worked alone, in an old hangar on the edge of town, and took no more than three orders a year.

More than once he had been offered to open a big workshop and hire people. Albert refused. He did not chase quantity: every motorcycle had to be one of a kind.

In October he was finishing a machine for Arsenia. In the morning Albert put Rare Bastard on his wrists. Neroli and a piquant accord opened bright and unusual, almost defiant.

All day he fitted parts. Coriander, thyme, violet and iris unfolded on his skin, dry and noble.

Towards evening Arsenia drove up to the hangar.

"Albert, I recognized you by your scent while still pulling up. There's something magnetic about you, it's hard to explain," Arsenia said.

"No need to explain. Get on and try it," Albert answered and handed her the keys.

Arsenia rode a lap round the yard and came back beaming. Nobody else had a motorcycle like it.

By night vetiver, cedar, leather, resins and benzoin stayed on his skin, warm and deep. Albert switched off the lights in the hangar and began thinking about the next order, one of three.

How it smells

The start is bright and unexpected: neroli sounds slightly bitter and luminous, and a piquant accord adds a daring touch.

In the heart coriander and thyme give a dry spice, while violet and iris pallida make it powdery and noble.

In the base vetiver, cedar, leather, resins and benzoin leave a warm, deep and memorable trail.

What makes it special

Rare Bastard is now discontinued. It was created as a personal fragrance to order for a person of rare, independent character. He is always recognized by his scent: there is something magnetically attractive in it that is hard to understand and must be felt. In pursuit of quality, such a person long ago grew tired of quantity. It is a unisex woody spicy fragrance.

It is worn for the freedom to be one of a kind: on an autumn day at a beloved craft, on the road and wherever handmade things are valued.