NEANDERTAL

Neandertal is an artistic response to challenge the status quo and humanity's innately self-centered view of the universe and our place in it. From the collaboration between Japanese artist Kentaro Yamada and Scottish perfumer Euan McCall comes Neandertal perfumes, artistic, conceptual and unisex fragrances designed to celebrate the mysterious but unbreakable relationship between Neanderthal and contemporary humans. If Neanderthal, a hominid of refined intelligence and creative ability, were still among us, what scents would he perceive and how? A possible, fascinating answer in two scents: Neandertal Light, light, bright and delicate; and Neandertal Dark, dark, smoky, wild. These are sophisticated blends, strikingly original and complex, far from the standards of traditional perfumery. Fresh, green and floral olfactory notes blend with innovative aromas, resinous distillates and mineral, earthy or animalic compounds, such as the natural smell of leather. The blending of ingredients that also existed at the time of Neanderthals along with more contemporary ones rekindles a visceral olfactory memory that has its roots, our roots, in Prehistory. Each Neandertal perfume bottle is unique, handcrafted by Kentaro Yamada. In pairs, Neandertal dark and light speak of the continuous becoming of the world around us; the rise and fall of different species, cultures and civilizations. They are also a reminder that our everyday experience of time, space and history is limited to our human-centered experience and the world around us. Neandertal perfume was born with the launch of Neandertal light and Neandertal dark, its first pair of fragrances. Since then, the brand has grown organically, receiving glowing reviews from fragrance, design and art writers. It expanded its fragrance line with the launch of Neandertal us and Neandertal in 30 ml glass bottles and by releasing a smaller edition of Neandertal light and dark in a 30 ml painted glass bottle. For the first time, it expanded its product line with the launch of candles in the "us" and "them" range that are made in reusable, handmade ceramic containers. The unique shape of the bottles is based on a series of hand-cut flint axes from Norfolk in the United Kingdom. Stone tools such as these have been used by mankind for over a million years and are one of the most widely used and ubiquitous design objects. Stoneware bottles are hot cast, using these hand woven flint axes, then fired and vitrified at over 1400°C in the kiln. The glass bottles are created using state-of-the-art 3D laser printing and scanning technology. Each of the 90-mL stoneware bottles is digitally numbered uniquely, using an NFC chip to guarantee its provenance. In pairs, Neandertal's Darkness and Light speak to the impermanence of the world around us; the rise and fall of different species, cultures and civilizations. They are also a reminder that our everyday experience of time, space and history is limited to our human-centered experience of the world around us.