Aromatic
Woody
Top Notesangelica rootbergamotcarrot seedslavender
Heartakigalawoodambrette seedrosestyrax
Base Noteslabdanumpatchoulitolu balmtonka beans
Tags
#sexy
Style
unisex
Misfit is a generous woody gala with leathery patchouli in the spotlight and angelica, akigalawood and tonka dancing in the back.
The concept and context:
September 1877, Port of Marseille, France.
In a bedroom in the City of Flesh, a Kashmiri shawl drapes decadently over the bed. Once extremely coveted, the shawls are now out of fashion with the bourgeois, their distinctive patchouli scent a victim of their downfall. Adopted by bohemians and courtesans, the fragrance mixes with French lavender, musky ambers and exotic balsams. With a new edge, and in the hands of misfits with style, the ‘undesirable’ becomes desired again.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
A wool coat slips off to reveal something less formal beneath. Misfit suits that shift from public composure to private ease: leathery patchouli lends presence, while its soft, ambery texture keeps the mood intimate rather than imposing.
How to wear
The woody, balsamic warmth makes Misfit a natural choice for cooler weather. Start with one or two sprays on skin, allowing the aromatic opening to settle into softer patchouli and tonka warmth. In heated rooms or mild weather, use a lighter application to keep that richness close.
Who it’s for
For those who enjoy patchouli but prefer it rounded and velvety rather than starkly earthy. Its leathery woods, aromatic accents and restrained sweetness suit tastes that lean toward tactile warmth and bohemian refinement rather than bright freshness.
Release year
2019
The nose
Rodrigo Flores-Roux is a Mexican-born perfumer known for vivid citrus compositions, lush florals and richly textured storytelling. His work includes Tom Ford Neroli Portofino and John Varvatos Artisan, alongside an extensive creative relationship with Arquiste. In Misfit, he gives patchouli a supple, ambery treatment rather than emphasizing its raw earthiness.
Collaborators
Carlos Huber developed Misfit’s historical concept and shaped its creative direction with Rodrigo Flores-Roux. His brief placed patchouli within a nineteenth-century French boudoir, drawing on the surrounding balsams, powders, creams and lotions to create a velvety, decadent composition.
Arquiste’s story
Founded by architect and historic preservationist Carlos Huber, Arquiste approaches perfume as olfactive restoration: researched compositions that evoke particular places and moments in history. Ingredients function like architectural materials, building atmosphere through structure, texture and detail rather than simply illustrating a list of notes.
Misfit’s concept
Misfit imagines a courtesan’s bedroom in Marseille in September 1877, with a patchouli-scented Kashmiri shawl draped over the bed. Its story follows patchouli’s shifting associations, from prized imported textiles to bohemian circles as fashions changed. The composition reclaims that fallen prestige, framing patchouli with the soft balsamic warmth of a French boudoir.
Extra info
Misfit won Fragrance of the Year — Indie at the 2021 Fragrance Foundation Awards. Its composition features a proprietary combination of two fractionated patchouli essences. Arquiste also publishes a research bibliography covering Kashmir shawls, Victorian perfume culture and the cultural history of smell.
Top Notesangelica rootbergamotcarrot seedslavender
Heartakigalawoodambrette seedrosestyrax
Base Noteslabdanumpatchoulitolu balmtonka beans
Tags
#sexy
Style
unisex
Misfit is a generous woody gala with leathery patchouli in the spotlight and angelica, akigalawood and tonka dancing in the back.
The concept and context:
September 1877, Port of Marseille, France.
In a bedroom in the City of Flesh, a Kashmiri shawl drapes decadently over the bed. Once extremely coveted, the shawls are now out of fashion with the bourgeois, their distinctive patchouli scent a victim of their downfall. Adopted by bohemians and courtesans, the fragrance mixes with French lavender, musky ambers and exotic balsams. With a new edge, and in the hands of misfits with style, the ‘undesirable’ becomes desired again.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
A wool coat slips off to reveal something less formal beneath. Misfit suits that shift from public composure to private ease: leathery patchouli lends presence, while its soft, ambery texture keeps the mood intimate rather than imposing.
How to wear
The woody, balsamic warmth makes Misfit a natural choice for cooler weather. Start with one or two sprays on skin, allowing the aromatic opening to settle into softer patchouli and tonka warmth. In heated rooms or mild weather, use a lighter application to keep that richness close.
Who it’s for
For those who enjoy patchouli but prefer it rounded and velvety rather than starkly earthy. Its leathery woods, aromatic accents and restrained sweetness suit tastes that lean toward tactile warmth and bohemian refinement rather than bright freshness.
Release year
2019
The nose
Rodrigo Flores-Roux is a Mexican-born perfumer known for vivid citrus compositions, lush florals and richly textured storytelling. His work includes Tom Ford Neroli Portofino and John Varvatos Artisan, alongside an extensive creative relationship with Arquiste. In Misfit, he gives patchouli a supple, ambery treatment rather than emphasizing its raw earthiness.
Collaborators
Carlos Huber developed Misfit’s historical concept and shaped its creative direction with Rodrigo Flores-Roux. His brief placed patchouli within a nineteenth-century French boudoir, drawing on the surrounding balsams, powders, creams and lotions to create a velvety, decadent composition.
Arquiste’s story
Founded by architect and historic preservationist Carlos Huber, Arquiste approaches perfume as olfactive restoration: researched compositions that evoke particular places and moments in history. Ingredients function like architectural materials, building atmosphere through structure, texture and detail rather than simply illustrating a list of notes.
Misfit’s concept
Misfit imagines a courtesan’s bedroom in Marseille in September 1877, with a patchouli-scented Kashmiri shawl draped over the bed. Its story follows patchouli’s shifting associations, from prized imported textiles to bohemian circles as fashions changed. The composition reclaims that fallen prestige, framing patchouli with the soft balsamic warmth of a French boudoir.
Extra info
Misfit won Fragrance of the Year — Indie at the 2021 Fragrance Foundation Awards. Its composition features a proprietary combination of two fractionated patchouli essences. Arquiste also publishes a research bibliography covering Kashmir shawls, Victorian perfume culture and the cultural history of smell.