Perfume brand Rook has released a new collection of fragrances inspired by nostalgia. 

Launched in 2018, Rook fragrances have always been about transporting the wearer to a specific time and place and with this new collection, the brand is transporting us to the great outdoors. 

Taking nature as inspiration, the three perfumes ‘Forest’, ‘Undergrowth’, and ‘Rook’ are very personal to founder Nadeem Crowe and were designed with his memories in mind, particularly Rook. “In many ways, it is my scent DNA,” says Crowe who combined the middle eastern influences of his heritage to create an intoxicating blend of agarwood, cardamom and incense. “It’s a scent that I once heard described as a ‘diplomat dressed up as a punk rocker.’ I think this description is perfect. The scent is a dirty-clean oxymoron.”

Crowe is used to being a bit of an oxymoron. Prior to founding Rook, Crowe studied both medicine and acting and is now a practising doctor when he’s not performing in West End productions, most recently School of Rock. “For me, perfume sits comfortably in the middle,” he says of his three contrasting occupations. “I spent two years studying science and feel totally comfortable with pipettes, beakers and weighing scales. The outcome, though, is a piece of art. Scent is very theatrical.”

Earlier this month, to promote the new collection, Rook collaborated with photographer and Dazed & Confused co-founder Rankin. The immersive experience centred around love and inclusivity also showcased Rankin’s new photography series HOLD YOUR BREATH.