The Fascinating Subjectivity of Perfume and Paintings
Perfume and Art, could they be bedfellows? If so, how? Could it be that both have the ability to be experienced without a set or definitive interpretation? After all, both invite you to discover but also create your specific connection. Just as perfume offers the opportunity to interpret its notes and wear it in a way that speaks intimately to its wearer, art can be perceived to offer no single meaning, encouraging each viewer to engage with it uniquely. Whether gazing at a masterpiece or inhaling a crafted fragrance, the experience is each to their own. This open-ended, deeply personal interpretation is what makes the art of Perfume and the world of Art profoundly and unwittingly intertwined. Find out more at The Fascinating Subjectivity of Perfume and Paintings.
Image Samantha Inman @rememberingtobreathe
When one artistic work inspires another, it becomes part of a larger, ever-evolving chain of creative expression. For many artists looking back, to move forward will have been much of their artistic Journey. Then there is cross contamination, if you like, where one artform informs another.
This contributes to a shared vision of beauty, understanding, and connection. This interconnectedness within the grand design ethos of artistic expression highlights how any form of art, through inspiration, can transcend individual expression to become a universal language, binding people together in a collective pursuit of meaning and truth. It also highlights that inspiration can come from multiple sources.
Many of us may pass someone wearing a scent and immediately think of the person they know who wears or wore it. It is, after all, a very personal choice, and our sense of smell is so strong we associate certain smells with times, places and people. Just as a scent is personal, so is the way we may view art; it is a personal connection that draws a viewer in. These two forms alike evoke a certain feeling or emotional response, this feeling can be influenced by a variety of factors such as personal experiences, memories, cultural backgrounds, and even mood. A Painting’s meaning might seem obvious on the surface, but each viewer will take away something different.
The same is true of perfume; what one person finds intoxicating, another might find overpowering or unpleasant. Both Painting and Perfume as mediums allow you to explore not just what is on top but the deeper and darker layers that are a bit more hidden or even less obvious.
In both cases, the deeper, hidden layers are part of what makes the experience rewarding. While the first impact might be what captures the attention, it’s the ongoing discovery of more nuanced layers that keep the experience engaging. Whether through seeing a work of art or wearing a fragrance, we are invited to peel back layers and explore what is hidden beneath the surface.
One art movement that has inspired a handful of perfumes is Abstract Expressionism, a modern art movement pioneered during the 1940s and 50s that saw art being made for emotional purposes rather than realistic purposes.
The canvas lets the artist show the viewer that the art isn’t just portraying realism or the art of a human form but could be everywhere on the canvas. Paintings within this oeuvre were often seen as subjective, with each person taking what they see and interpreting it as they wish, similarly, to perfume.
Probably the most famous within this movement and one of the world’s greatest artists was Russian American artist Mark Rothko. Known for his contributions to the Abstract Expressionist movement. He was born in Latvia and immigrated to the United States as a child. Rothko’s work is often associated with colour field painting, where large, soft-edged blocks of colour are used to evoke emotion and create an immersive experience for the viewer. Although he did not regard himself as a colour field painter.
Colour field painting is a style of abstract painting, usually consisting of vast areas of colour without the need for realism. Being inspired by European modernism and closely related to abstract expressionism, many of its notable early proponents were among the pioneering abstract expressionists.
Mark Rothko‘s painting No. 9 (1948) at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
The movement places less emphasis on gesture, brushstrokes and action in favour of an overall consistency of form and process. In colour field painting, colour is allowed to be explored as an art form in itself and can be looked at as the subject of a Painting.
Rothko’s art evolved over time. In the 1940s, he started experimenting with more figurative work but soon moved toward abstraction. His iconic style appeared with large, luminous rectangles of colour stacked vertically on canvas, often with blurred edges. He was less concerned with traditional representation and more focused on the psychological impact of colour, light, and form. history of artists not caring about realism in their art to portray emotions.
Rothko’s famous colour-block paintings have served as inspiration for the perfume house BDK to make Crème De Cuir. Rothko’s paintings are often interpreted as being blank, but the canvas being made of coloured blocks lets the viewer put their own experiences into what they are seeing. While his works were deeply emotional, Rothko resisted being confined to any specific artistic label.
“Rothko’s paintings are built on layers that seem to float and interact fluidly, and I wanted Crème de Cuir to have that same evolving presence. It’s a monochrome of beige and white, where materials blend in perfect harmony. The result is a fragrance that is both contemporary and timeless, inviting and sensual, with a quiet but undeniable elegance.”
David Benedek Founder & Creative Director BDK
His later works were designed to create an immersive emotional experience, with colour serving as the primary vehicle for this expression. Rothko’s approach emphasized the psychological impact of colour, inviting viewers to enter a meditative space and explore their own emotional responses.
Many colours in colour-field painting are often associated with emotions and given power through metaphor to human feelings. When thinking of colour association, red might be the first to come to mind as being associated with anger or love. Crème De Cuir portrays feelings of comfort and warmth, represented through cream. White is present in Rothko’s paintings, and the perfume here can similarly evoke a certain emotion, in particular, calmness and clarity.
Crème De Cuir by BDK Parfums’ composition mirrors the subtle yet profound qualities of Rothko’s beige and white monochrome paintings, where soft, overlapping colour blocks evoke depth and introspection.
The fresh, citrusy top notes of Mandarin, Bergamot, and Pineapple capture the luminosity of Rothko’s lighter tones, while the creamy, comforting middle notes of Sandalwood, White suede, and a Solar accord reflect the texture of his colour fields. The deeper base notes of Vanilla Absolute, Birch, and Musk introduce a grounding richness, echoing the hidden emotional complexity and darker undertones in Rothko’s work.
“With Crème de Cuir, I wanted to reimagine leather in a way that feels pure, almost weightless – stripped of its usual animalic or smoky traits. Inspired by the monochromatic works of Mark Rothko, the fragrance embodies a refined, modern sensuality, much like his compositions where colours blend seamlessly, creating depth without harshness.”
David Benedek Founder & Creative Director BDK
Together, the fragrance’s layers invite the wearer to experience an evolving, personal journey, much like the way one engages with the quiet yet powerful emotional depth of Rothko’s Art. The vast scope of Rothko’s Paintings pulled the on-looker in, much like being pulled in by a striking and beautifully scented perfume.
Perfume on skin evolves and shows its layers over time, much like enjoying a great Painting that reveals itself the longer you look at it. Both art forms grow with the user or perceiver. Just as a painting can transport someone to a memory or landscape, a fragrance can do the same, speaking directly to the senses and emotions.
Crème De Cuir by BDK, explores the depth of Rothko’s painting genius in an almost synthetic experience, bringing to life the colours via scent. Both of these artists, who may use different mediums, layer their elements to create depth, mood, and texture.
Art in its many forms can play an ode to what came before it, using other art as influences for things like presentation, form and scent. The interplay between the two art forms allows each to inspire and inform the other, blurring boundaries and enhancing the creative process.
To read more about Crème De Cuir by BDK parfums visit bdkparfums.com
Rothko’s Famous Paintings can be viewed at a number of different art galleries across the world, but currently, a collection of his Seagram murals are available to see at the Tate Modern in the Rothko Room.
If you enjoyed reading The Fascinating Subjectivity of Perfume and Paintings then why not read Devotion Eau de Parfum Intense: A Deeper Expression of Love
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