It’s very rare one describes a scent as “haunting” but that’s the word that springs to mind when I think of Illuminum fragrances.
‘Colour as a Narrative’ by Antonino Cardillo architect for Illuminum. Photography is courtesy of Antonino Cardillo.
Each scent is presented in a brandy glass – there are no “counters” as such, so you can absorb the scent in its entirety – top middle and bottom notes all in one hit. A much more enveloping sensation than sniffing a newly sprayed wrist and getting a few spiky top notes along with a hefty dose of alcohol.
‘Colour as a Narrative’ by Antonino Cardillo architect for Illuminum. Photography is courtesy of Antonino Cardillo.
Their latest venture is their Colour As A Narrative exhibition – a collaboration between Sicilian architect Antonino Cardillo and Illuminum London’s Creative Director, Asakala Geraghty. Glass domes resembling slightly squashed balloons have been (created by glass artist Elliot Walker) are suspended on black string, their delicacy contrasted with the walls and ceiling of the exhibition space which are roughly covered in grey pozzolanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in Naples. Each dome resembles a “colour” on the spectrum, yet it is filled with a different Illuminum scent seen as an “invisible colour”. If you’re a fan of scent and want to explore a different kind of exhibition, we suggest paying The Illuminum Lounge a visit.
‘Colour as a Narrative’ by Antonino Cardillo architect for Illuminum. Photography is courtesy of Antonino Cardillo.
by Viola Levy
Colour As Narrative is on at The Illuminum Lounge, 41 Dover Street, London W1S 4NS (nearest tube: Green Park)