Lunef x Ame no Ie -Original Fragrance-

The Start of Scent Creation

Today is the long-awaited day to create my very own fragrance.
Asumi Ando, a perfumer from the fragrance brand Lunef, visited my home.
I discovered Lunef through a friend, and was drawn to its serene world, and six months have already passed. When I expressed my desire to Asumi to "create a scent together someday," she readily agreed, bringing us to this day.

She is someone who looks good in white, and on this day too, her white dress exuded a gentle presence. As I was admiring her dignified demeanor, Asumi began her preparations deftly.
She gracefully spread out a beautiful patchwork cloth made of several white fabrics, and on it, she meticulously arranged small essential oil bottles one by one. Then, she dripped a single drop of essential oil onto long testing strips, arranging them in a circle on a black plate. This entire process was exactly as I had seen on social media, and it made my heart pound.

Soon, everything was ready, and I was handed paper and a pen.
On the table were white papers, each marked only with a number.

"First, encounter the scents you like," Asumi said.

Normally, my attention would be drawn to the names and effects of essential oils, but by intentionally concealing this information, Asumi's intention was clear: she wanted me to face my pure preferences without preconceived notions. My awareness then shifted solely to the scents themselves.

 

A Moment to Engage with Scent

Now, I proceed to smell the 21 scented strips in order.
After trying about eight of them, I find several that pique my interest, making me a little indecisive.
Then, Asumi said to me, "It's perfectly fine to choose as many as you like." Reassured by her gentle smile, I reached for the next scent.

Time passed in silent concentration, focusing solely on the scents.
The immediate impression upon reaching my nose, the quiet lingering aftertaste.
As I savored each one, all my senses seemed to converge on my sense of smell, enveloping me in a sensation I rarely experience.

After I had tried all of them, Asumi said one thing:
"Tsugu-san, you seem to like woody scents."

It appeared that many of the essential oils I chose evoked the forest.
Was it because I love nature, or because, without realizing it, I seek the tranquility of a forest in my urban life?

Feeling as though my inner self had been seen through, I blushed slightly.

 

When It Finally Takes Shape

As the chosen essential oils are layered drop by drop, nuances that weren't apparent individually begin to emerge.

The clear, crisp air of the forest.
The earthy bitterness.
A hidden sweetness.
The way the scent transforms with each added essential oil is fascinating, like a story unfolding before my eyes.

However, simply layering what I "liked" felt somehow incomplete.
Asumi sensed that subtle incongruity within me without me needing to voice it, and quickly adjusted it with a few drops. The incongruity disappeared completely, resulting in a complex yet cohesive scent.

And so, the base was complete.
From here, the finishing touches would be done at the atelier in Kamakura, and our work for the day was concluded.

All that was left was to await the notification of completion.

 

Visiting Kamakura

It was a few days later when I received word that it was finished.

Although I could have received it by mail, I wanted to see for myself the environment in which Asumi works with aromas, so I decided to head to Kamakura.

Our meeting place was a nature-filled spot, one of Asumi's favorite walking routes. The day was clear and sunny, perfect for a stroll.
The area around Kamakura Station was bustling with tourists, but as we entered the narrow path leading to our meeting spot, the scenery suddenly changed. This secluded corner was filled with cool, clear air, and birds chirped their welcome.
As the wind blew, dry leaves rustled down. Looking up, I involuntarily gasped at the sheer quantity. It must have been a sight unique to autumn.
The moment the leaves fell like a "rain of leaves" was truly magical. And with every shaft of sunlight filtering through the trees, the scenery subtly changed its expression.

The fleeting beauty was so profound that before I knew it, I was engrossed in taking pictures.

 

Asumi Ando of Lunef's Vision

As we walked through the deep green, Asumi suddenly shared a thought with me.

Asumi: "Aromas are very similar to the world of wine and food."

Me: "What do you mean?"

Asumi: "With wine, the initial scent, the aroma after some time, and the lingering finish are all different, aren't they? Aromas also have 'layers' – top, middle, and base notes... their transitions are like a story."

After a pause, Asumi continued.

Asumi: "It's the same with food. Just as a single combination of spices or herbs can completely change the flavor, a single drop of essential oil can create an entirely different expression in aromatherapy. That's what makes it so interesting."

I see. Hearing that, aromas felt much more familiar to me.
After walking for a while, I asked the question I had long wanted to ask.

Me: "Asumi-san, why did you decide to become a perfumer?"

 

Asumi replied with a direct gaze.

Asumi: "Originally, I was prone to mood swings with the changing seasons.
Around that time, I discovered that burning my favorite aroma would suddenly calm me.
For me, aromas are like a 'charm' or 'talisman'."

Me: "A charm—that's a wonderful way to put it."

 

Asumi: "Of course, the efficacy is important, but whether I can genuinely feel 'this smells good' is also something I value greatly. I want to create scents that truly cherish the feeling of 'liking' something, rather than just choosing based on what it's effective for."

The moment I heard those words, I became an even bigger fan of Lunef.
The delicacy, gentleness, and underlying depth I felt when I first tried Lunef's aroma spray.I felt that it must have originated from Asumi's very approach to aromatherapy.

 

The Completed Scent of Amenioie

After that conversation, Asumi gently pulled a small glass bottle from her bag.

"This is your fragrance spray, Tsugu-san.
A woody scent that evokes a tranquil forest. The top notes offer a refreshing sweetness and natural moisture, transitioning into a deep aroma where the warmth of the earth and tree bark blend together."

 

In this beautiful natural setting, I immediately sprayed a little.

In that instant, the gentle sweetness of bergamot and the crisp presence of rosemary softly diffused, accompanied by the fresh exuberance of geranium.
Soon after, the calm, woody warmth of cedarwood and hinoki cypress slowly emerged.

In the forest, where sunlight filtered through the trees, the cool scent of earth gently wafted.
That natural gradient seemed to be softly encapsulated within this small bottle.

Before a morning deep breath.
When I want to compose myself before heading to work.
During a quiet moment in the evening.
How wonderful it would be if, with every spritz of this scent in the days to come, the beautiful memories I experienced in Kamakura would gently resurface.

And so, the "scent of Amenioie" was born.
I hope this scent will not only accompany me but also bring comfort and ease to the hearts of others yet unknown.