“Originally, we were a group of choir friends who wanted to make music in a slightly different way.” Arcana is an opera choir founded nine years ago. Every year, they perform in a church to interpret classical music combined with other senses. Whether through sight, taste, or smell, each concert aims to create sensory connections with music. So, after several collaborations, Pierre Aulas suggested we take the experience a little further: organize our first olfactory concert!
Heat, incense and music
We are greeted by the Arcana choir at the church entrance. A hubbub rises as the scent of anticipation intensifies. Pierre Aulas, wearing a red bow tie, distributes the scented pouches to his audience. The perfumer tries to hide his nervousness, just minutes before delivering the first of two performances in his olfactory concert.
It's almost 9:30 p.m. Things are about to get serious. Accompanied by the scent of incense, we head to the heart of the nave to take our seats. All the chairs are filled. Armed with a fan, our Bon Parfumeur pouch, and the program, we prepare to experience this unique experience!
An olfactory symphony
Pierre Aulas, microphone in hand, takes the stage and begins speaking. Behind him, the Arcana backing vocalists take the stage, silent for the moment. “There are many connections between music and perfume,” the perfumer tells us.
The first act, called "celestial," is a prime example. Music and fragrance evoke lightness and serenity: we feel transported to heaven. The choir is illuminated by a cloud of bluish smoke. Its magnificent singing gently fills the nave while the scent of incense that perfumed the church gives way to fragrance 702. Woody, its notes of incense, lavender, and cashmere wood enchant our nostrils. The entire audience is surprised to feel a pleasant sensation of serenity. This first act is a resounding success.
“Women have a close connection with perfume.” With these words, Pierre Aulas, more confident than at the beginning of the concert, introduces the second act, “ the homage to women .” Quoting Coco Chanel (“A woman without perfume is a woman without a future”), he presents the floral eau de parfum. 101 , with rose, sweet pea and white cedar. As the fragrant scents reach us, the choir begins Salve regina, a composition paying homage to the Virgin Mary. Like statues, the motionless choristers give way to Soprano Ludmilla Bouakkaz. The latter, through her movements, illustrates Haï Luli , an intense and striking composition: “I was breathless, she has such a beautiful voice! And the tone! Plus, the scent helps set the mood,” says Chloe, a woman in her thirties.
For the final act, the group of choristers is surrounded by a reddish cloud, transporting us to the Orient. Inspired by djinns, oriental demons, this act is influenced by the oriental imagination, cultivated by France during the 19th century. We are all held in suspense, as if sucked in by the choir, which fully captivates our attention. Bewitched by the amber and spicy fragrance 301 , our souls are transcended by the majestic voices of the choristers. “It was intense! I felt like I was facing terror. Their eyes were so expressive!” says Mélusine, a spectator. Sinking into our seats, we witness a gripping finale. The last notes of the piano resound through the church.
At that time…
A silence follows, brief but profound. It is then broken by thunderous applause. The audience is captivated, Pierre Aulas is all smiles. The tension finally breaks. With a smile on her lips, Pauline, an influencer on Instagram and TikTok, tells us: “I loved the concert! It was very original to mix our senses. The perfumes had a unique scent, which reflected the music.” . At around 10:30 p.m., the church gradually empties, some spectators and family members stay to chat with the choristers. Pierre, his bow tie undone, laughs, saying that it is necessary for him to find “a next means of expression to make classical music captivating.”
Article written by Aurélie Gonneau and Romain Brizay on June 27, 2023
Photographs taken by Pauline GrosJean @pauline_photos
