EXCLUSIVE: Garage talks to perfumer Barnabe Fillion about Aesop’s new fragrance

Virere is a fresh, green, fig-forward perfume

Imagine a sunny bike ride along a row of fig trees, their ripe scent carried on the breeze, or the comforting warmth of green tea, surrounded by the lushness of juicy figs and their leaves. These are the sensory experiences French perfumer Barnabe Fillion, Aesop’s long-time collaborator, sought to capture in Virere.

Virere—meaning “to be green” in Latin—is a name that perfectly reflects this vibrant fragrance. In the fragrance community, Virere is praised as “beautifully approachable,” a sentiment we fully share. The description alone—a refreshing blend of fig and green tea—piques our interest. But Virere is more complex, revealing notes of bergamot, petitgrain, pink pepper, and hay, creating a fragrance we believe will resonate with many, especially here in the Philippines.

To gain a deeper understanding of how Virere came to life, the Aesop team invited Garage for an exclusive interview with Barnabe. We discussed his inspirations for Aesop’s latest fragrance, from his memories of European summers to his meditative green tea rituals in Japan. Dive into our conversation below:

How does Virere Eau de Parfum fit within the brand’s philosophy?
Like Aesop, Virere is unconventional and doesn’t follow trends. It takes fig fragrances in a new direction, capturing the fresh scent of fig leaves along with the complex notes of green tea.

Where did the inspiration for Virere come from?
There’s a personal experience I wanted to recreate with Virere—fig trees lining the streets in summer, especially in Europe around September. The scent of fig trees is unmistakable, even as you pass by on a bicycle or sit beneath one. For me, this unique scent brings back memories of summer, moments of sharing, celebrating, or simply enjoying a refreshing, healthy meal. Bringing this to life involved creating a balanced aroma that reflects these elements, evoking the transition from dry tea leaf to fresh brew and the scent of fig trees in the air—a precious moment and memory to cherish.

Additionally, I have a deep passion for tea, which I’ve explored in various countries, ultimately discovering many unique types of green tea in Japan. One of my favorites is Gyokuro, which typically comes from the Kyoto region, though I discovered it while traveling in Fukuoka. Gyokuro has a multifaceted taste, sometimes described as umami—a sensation that leaves you wanting more. This quality is something I wanted to capture in Virere, alongside the nostalgic scent of fig leaves. Interestingly, I had little experience with drinking fig-infused teas before this project. The lightly infused green fig skin, representing the scent of fig leaves, is a fleeting moment of beauty that I aimed to encapsulate in the fragrance.

What about fig resonates with you the most?
For me, fig evokes the nostalgia of summer—a season of enjoyment and simple pleasures. Right now, I’m in Italy, standing in the middle of a narrow street, and suddenly, the scent of a fig tree hits me. I find myself searching for the source. But the idea isn’t to chase the fig tree; it’s to be absorbed by its scent, which transports you to different places. The complexity of fig, in its various forms and representations, complements the green tea perfectly.

What sets this fragrance apart from your other creations, like Tacit and Erémia?
For Virere, CO2 extraction was a key technique, especially for ingredients like green tea and cardamom. This method allowed us to create sparkling, bright fragrance notes. We also used Green Maté Absolute for its natural, fresh aromatic quality. CO2 extraction captures the essence of an ingredient almost exactly as it smells in its natural state—green tea expressed as aromatic, herbaceous, and woody. Combined with Green Maté, this creates the perfect tea accord. The Green Maté Absolute adds a long-lasting effect, with its heavy, waxy molecules that provide a strong, elongated base note—dry and herbal, similar to the scent of dried tea leaves.

Where and when would you personally wear Virere?
I imagine wearing it during the summer, under the specific blue skies of Europe, as I mentioned earlier. However, it can be worn day or night, depending on when you want to reconnect with that memory. I don’t project who or where this perfume is for specifically, but I believe part of the fragrance’s charm is its versatility—celebrations, the texture of clothes, the reminiscence of the scent, and traces of memories all contribute to this unique moment.

In what ways do you believe your creations set you apart from other perfumers in the industry?
The perfumes I’ve created with Aesop are unique in that, 15 years ago when I started in perfumery, focusing on natural ingredients wasn’t considered “real” perfumery. It took two to three challenging years to convince people otherwise. Aesop gave me the opportunity and space to work authentically from the beginning. That’s how it all started—through multiple revisions, with strong support from the Aesop team, we were able to create something truly different in the industry. It’s the sharing of ideas on both sides that has resulted in what you see today.

Virere, Aesop’s 11th fragrance offering is available in 50ml bottles priced at P7,300