Leather
Spicy
Top Notescinnamonoreganosesame
Heartclovescuminjasmine
Base Noteschilichyprecocoamexican vanillavanilla
Tags
#beast
Style
unisex
An olfactive reconstruction of 17th century Viceregal Mexico: the mineral notes of terra cotta tile floors and stucco walls, the wooden beams and gilded altars give way to a heart of of spiced cacao. In the background, the incense from the church mixes with the kitchen spices, creating an evocative Baroque concoction between heaven and earth. Notes include: Cocoa absolute, Mexican vanilla, cinnamon, and a smoked chili infusion.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
Anima Dulcis suits an evening that settles into close conversation rather than spectacle. Bitter cacao and smoked chili bring the warmth of a working kitchen into a quieter room, while incense and wood keep the sweetness shaded and serious.
How to wear
Its rich cacao, vanilla and spice profile makes cooler weather a natural starting point. Begin with one or two sprays on skin, allowing the warmth to develop before adding more. Use a lighter application in heated rooms or warm weather, where the dense sweetness and spices may feel more expansive.
Who it’s for
For those who enjoy gourmand fragrances with savory edges rather than confectionery sweetness. It will appeal to lovers of dark cacao, smoked spices, incense and textured chypre compositions, especially when atmosphere matters as much as an immediately recognizable note.
Release year
2011 (or 2012)
The nose
Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Yann Vasnier co-created Anima Dulcis. Flores-Roux is known for richly detailed compositions, expressive florals and a longstanding creative connection to Mexican culture. His work spans mainstream perfumery and niche houses, including an extensive contribution to Arquiste. Vasnier’s versatile style combines clear structure with inventive contrasts across woods, spices and gourmand materials. Here, the two perfumers translate cacao and culinary spices into a broader architectural atmosphere rather than a straightforward chocolate confection.
Collaborators
Carlos Huber developed the historical concept and creative brief, drawing on his architectural preservation research into Mexico City’s Royal Convent of Jesús María. He worked with Flores-Roux and Vasnier to translate archival recipes and the imagined movement between kitchen, courtyard and church into scent.
Arquiste’s story
Arquiste treats fragrance as olfactory historical restoration. Founded by architectural preservationist Carlos Huber, the house researches specific places, periods and materials, then translates them into wearable compositions: scent as a time capsule rather than a literal historical replica.
Anima Dulcis 2023’s concept
The fragrance imagines November 1695 inside Mexico City’s Royal Convent of Jesús María, where nuns prepare cocoa with spices and chilies. Huber’s research for a restoration proposal uncovered recipes that helped shape the concept. Terracotta floors, stucco walls, wooden beams and church incense extend the composition beyond chocolate into the atmosphere of the building itself.
Extra info
Anima Dulcis translates as “sweet soul.” Its smoked chili accord names ancho, guajillo and chipotle, and the official product page includes a historical and culinary bibliography. It was a finalist in the 2013 Basenotes Reader Awards. The retailer designation “2023” marks a documented return to production, not a confirmed new formula or separate edition.
Top Notescinnamonoreganosesame
Heartclovescuminjasmine
Base Noteschilichyprecocoamexican vanillavanilla
Tags
#beast
Style
unisex
An olfactive reconstruction of 17th century Viceregal Mexico: the mineral notes of terra cotta tile floors and stucco walls, the wooden beams and gilded altars give way to a heart of of spiced cacao. In the background, the incense from the church mixes with the kitchen spices, creating an evocative Baroque concoction between heaven and earth. Notes include: Cocoa absolute, Mexican vanilla, cinnamon, and a smoked chili infusion.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
Anima Dulcis suits an evening that settles into close conversation rather than spectacle. Bitter cacao and smoked chili bring the warmth of a working kitchen into a quieter room, while incense and wood keep the sweetness shaded and serious.
How to wear
Its rich cacao, vanilla and spice profile makes cooler weather a natural starting point. Begin with one or two sprays on skin, allowing the warmth to develop before adding more. Use a lighter application in heated rooms or warm weather, where the dense sweetness and spices may feel more expansive.
Who it’s for
For those who enjoy gourmand fragrances with savory edges rather than confectionery sweetness. It will appeal to lovers of dark cacao, smoked spices, incense and textured chypre compositions, especially when atmosphere matters as much as an immediately recognizable note.
Release year
2011 (or 2012)
The nose
Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Yann Vasnier co-created Anima Dulcis. Flores-Roux is known for richly detailed compositions, expressive florals and a longstanding creative connection to Mexican culture. His work spans mainstream perfumery and niche houses, including an extensive contribution to Arquiste. Vasnier’s versatile style combines clear structure with inventive contrasts across woods, spices and gourmand materials. Here, the two perfumers translate cacao and culinary spices into a broader architectural atmosphere rather than a straightforward chocolate confection.
Collaborators
Carlos Huber developed the historical concept and creative brief, drawing on his architectural preservation research into Mexico City’s Royal Convent of Jesús María. He worked with Flores-Roux and Vasnier to translate archival recipes and the imagined movement between kitchen, courtyard and church into scent.
Arquiste’s story
Arquiste treats fragrance as olfactory historical restoration. Founded by architectural preservationist Carlos Huber, the house researches specific places, periods and materials, then translates them into wearable compositions: scent as a time capsule rather than a literal historical replica.
Anima Dulcis 2023’s concept
The fragrance imagines November 1695 inside Mexico City’s Royal Convent of Jesús María, where nuns prepare cocoa with spices and chilies. Huber’s research for a restoration proposal uncovered recipes that helped shape the concept. Terracotta floors, stucco walls, wooden beams and church incense extend the composition beyond chocolate into the atmosphere of the building itself.
Extra info
Anima Dulcis translates as “sweet soul.” Its smoked chili accord names ancho, guajillo and chipotle, and the official product page includes a historical and culinary bibliography. It was a finalist in the 2013 Basenotes Reader Awards. The retailer designation “2023” marks a documented return to production, not a confirmed new formula or separate edition.