Surely You Jest
Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and stink…
Jesters and fools have a long and rich history in art and literature, often serving as symbolic figures that convey deeper insight regarding society, social structures, power dynamics, skepticism and defiance of authority, the struggle against oppressive systems, the limitations of reason, and the follies and complexities of human nature and human existence.
Underneath the motley, they represent the juxtaposition of wisdom and foolishness and the necessity of speaking truth to power — and of hearing the truth, when we’re the ones in power.
April having been ordained the foolish season for historical reasons which are still debated to today, we’re proud to participate in this tradition. Here’s a whole pack of ‘em!
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Cynocephalic Fool with Bladder Stick Giving Jesus a Hard Time Perfume Oil
Out of StockBute Master
D is for Dog-Face: a Medieval marzipan suffused with frankincense smoke and splashed by sacramental wine.
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Euer Narren lache ich allen, denn nur ihre Kolben tun gefallen Perfume Oil
Out of StockHeinrich Vogtherr the Younger
The scent of denial, of looking the other way, of tolerating the intolerable: white peppercorn peering slyly through green tangerine, mandarin, mimosa, and red lotus root.
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Feast of Fools Perfume Oil
Out of StockFrans Floris the Elder
Control your own fate? You can’t even control your fête! A rollicking scent that upturns hierarchies and flies in the face of conventions: cacophonous red poppy, sweet almond cream, wildflower honey, molasses, gingerbread, scarlet jasmine, red amber, lemon peel, Spanish moss, and black musk.
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Fest der Bogenschützen Perfume Oil
Out of StockMaster of Frankfurt
A meeting of the mindless: trampled grass, crushed apples, and a flash of red currant motley.
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Hamlet et les Fossoyeurs Perfume Oil
Out of StockPascal Dagnan-Bouveret
Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c: dried rose petals scattered among funeral cypresses, a splash of sly tonka fougere, tobacco absolute, and charred white sandalwood skulls.
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Medieval Fool Breaking the Fourth Wall Perfume Oil
Out of StockBute Master
Addressing you directly, dear reader, with this important message: NYAHHHH!! Cheeky blackcurrant against a backdrop of scorched goat’s milk, festooned with ribbons of scarlet musk, dried plum, and sweet rose-infused amber.
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Mondeken Toe Perfume Oil
Out of StockQuentin Metsys
Harpocrates would never. Peru balsam, dusty leather accord, jingling brazen amber, oakmoss, crushed mint, teakwood, and a coxcomb curl of red musk.
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Stańczyk Perfume Oil
Out of StockAn icon of Poland’s history and culture, Stańczyk was King Sigismund I the Old’s court jester at the height of the Rebirth and his wit, intelligence, and eloquence is venerated to this day. His fame and influence – and the mysteries surrounding his life – are such that some consider him a myth. Jan Matejko’s depiction of Stańczyk is lush and shadowed, rife with despair and ill-omen, and so is our perfume: scarlet silk, spiced rose petals, well-worn red leather, Oman frankincense, labdanum, dried cherries, and blackberry wine.
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The Acrobats Perfume Oil
Out of StockGustave Doré
Ignorance isn’t always bliss: dried apricot, russet amber, blackened tea leaf, wild fig, and rum oud.
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The Extraction of the Stone of Madness Perfume Oil
Out of StockHieronymus Bosch
Not a cell phone in sight. Just people living in the moment. A strangely serene scent: French lavender bud, woodmoss, cypress, amyris, white cedar, labdanum, and bergamot.
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Touchstone, the Jester Perfume Oil
Out of StockJohn William Waterhouse
The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly: fig milk, white cedar, white pear, vanilla cream, bourbon sandalwood, clove, honey cake, and sweet musk.