Chinese-born, London-based performance artist Mengting Zhuo explores the intricate relationship between time, space, and sensory experience through her latest collection of perfumes. This collection is a meditation on the fluidity of time, capturing the elusive nature of the Past, Now, and Future—three landscapes that together form a seamless continuum.

In Daoism, time is not linear but a continuous flow, where past, present, and future are interconnected. Zhuo embraces this cyclical concept of time by creating three temporal landscapes (意象) that invite reflection instead of control. These scents do not seek to dominate the senses but gently accompany them, allowing moments to unfold naturally, free from force or interference—embodying the Daoist principle of '无为而无不为' (Through non-action, nothing is left undone).

Past evokes a landscape of memory, where the dusty, ash-laden remnants of time offer quiet lessons from a distant horizon. Now captures the fleeting, transient beauty of the present, a moment both elusive and grounding, like the reflection of light on a train window at sunset. Future represents an uncharted realm, a hyper-real, clean, and balanced space where potential is rendered yet remains undefined.

With each perfume, you receive more than a sensorial experience; you are invited into a conceptual exploration. Every bottle is accompanied by a playful, original score written by the artist herself, designed to engage you with the perfume in unexpected and thought-provoking ways. Packaged randomly, these instructions create an element of surprise—no one knows which one of the 12 in the set you’ll receive until you open it.

Perfume, for Zhuo, is a medium of exploration, a bridge between the immateriality of her performance art practice and the tangible world of scent, where the ephemeral becomes palpable. This collection is not merely a sensorial offering—it’s an invitation to find harmony in the natural rhythm of existence, and to explore the invisible, ephemeral nature of time, memory, and presence.

 

Read more about Zhuo's practice in our Scent Journal. 

 

 

PAST

The past is old book pages, weathered and worn.

The past is carbonised memories, etched in time.

An old library, where the air is thick with stories long told.

Natural decay, the yellowing traces of time’s gentle passage.

The past is a landscape of memory, a gentle reminder of where we've been.

This eau de toilette takes you on a contemplative journey through the scent of aged paper, the subtle smokiness of charred wood, and the earthy notes of oakmoss. It evokes the feeling of a solitary walk in an ancient city, where every step is a bridge between the now and what once was.

Notes: Oakmoss, frankincense, hay, tar

 

NOW

The now is fleeting.

The now is a breath barely felt.

The now is the reflection of a water lily on a still pond.

Ripples that carry a resonance from afar, a whisper in the stillness.

Wind from somewhere unknown, a gentle reminder of life in motion.

Is it the world? Is it yourself?

The now is when you notice; it exists when you truly see.

The now is now.

This eau de toilette captures the subtlety and lightness of the present moment. Minimalist in composition, it invites you to heighten your senses and embrace the transient beauty of the here and now. With carefully selected notes that create a sensation of airiness and impermanence, this scent is a gentle companion for those moments when you want to be present without overwhelming your senses.

Notes: Mint tea, caraway, saffron

 

FUTURE

The future is in the clouds.

The future is a landscape of potential, open and undefined.

The future is rendered as a prototype—waiting to happen.

The future may be 3D printed.

Pink dust settles into white foams, or perhaps clouds—soft, ethereal, and boundless.

A euphoric possibility just beyond reach.

This fragrance is a blend of synthetic floral and musky notes, a scent that exists in the realm of imagination. It’s for those days when you feel a bit dull and seek a feel-good pick-me-up, a way to embrace the promise of what’s to come. By trusting in the natural unfolding of life, we allow the future to emerge effortlessly, without force or worry.

Notes: Iris, musk, vanilla, aldehyde