100ml
100ml
ARQUISTE PARFUMEUR
ANIMA DULCIS
Eau De Parfum
Unisex
Sizes
Starting
$225
Description
Anima Dulcis by Arquiste is a rich and evocative Eau de Parfum that transports you to the Royal Convent of Jesus Maria in 17th-century Mexico City, where nuns crafted spiced cocoa recipes. It opens with a warm, aromatic blend of sesame seed, cinnamon bark, and oregano, quickly developing into a heart of clove, cumin, night-blooming jasmine, and a distinctive smoked chili infusion. The fragrance settles into a deep, sensual base of Mexican vanilla bean, cocoa bean absolute, and an oriental-chypre accord, creating a complex and darkly delicious gourmand experience that is both historical and modern. This scent offers a unique take on chocolate, moving beyond typical sweetness to explore its more profound, spicy, and even animalic facets.
Perfumers: Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Yann Vasnier.
Scent Profile
Oriental
Vanilla
Spicy
Amber
Gourmand
Warm
Sweet
Notes
All Notes
Mexican Baroque
Top Notes
Sesame Seed
CinnamonOregano
Middle Notes
Clove Buds
CuminHuele-De-Noche (Night-Blooming Jasmine)
Smoked Chili Infusion (Ancho
Guajillo
Chipotle)
Base Notes
Mexican Vanilla Bean
Cocoa Bean Absolute
Oriental-Chypre Accord
About ARQUISTE PARFUMEUR
A luxury niche brand founded in 2011 and distributed amongst more than 100 exclusive points of sales around the world. ARQUISTE® is a celebrated and cult fragrance brand. Curated by an architect specializing in Historic Preservation, each fragrance and scented candle restores the olfactive experience of a particular time and place, allowing you to unlock personal revelations and experience history in a most intimate way.
Perfumers
Carlos Huber
Carlos Huber is a Mexican-born architect and fragrance designer, best known as the founder of Arquiste Parfumeur. Trained in architecture and historic preservation in Mexico, Paris, and New York (Columbia University), he brings a historian’s eye to perfumery, crafting scents as “liquid time machines” that evoke specific moments in history. Mentored by perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, he has collaborated with luxury houses like St. Regis Hotels, J.Crew, and Trudon. Celebrated by Forbes as the “Renaissance Man of Good Smells,” Huber is recognized for fusing rigorous research with olfactory artistry.
Yann Vasnier
Yann Vasnier is a French master perfumer renowned for his artistic range and innovative style. Trained at ISIPCA in Versailles, he has created fragrances for luxury houses such as Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Comme des Garçons, Arquiste, and Jo Malone London, as well as niche brands like Parfums MDCI and Keiko Mecheri. Vasnier is celebrated for his ability to craft scents that balance elegance, modernity, and daring creativity, making him one of the most respected perfumers of his generation.
Rodrigo Flores-Roux
Rodrigo Flores-Roux is a Mexican-born master perfumer, celebrated for his artistry in blending classical techniques with modern creativity. Trained in biology in Mexico and perfumery at ISIPCA in Versailles, he has created acclaimed fragrances for houses such as Tom Ford, Clinique, Dolce & Gabbana, John Varvatos, and Arquiste. Known for his deep knowledge of raw materials and storytelling through scent, Flores-Roux is regarded as one of the leading perfumers of his generation, shaping both niche and mainstream perfumery with elegance and innovation.
Reviews
Community Insights
Reviewers often describe Anima Dulcis as a unique and decadent gourmand, frequently drawing comparisons to a sophisticated Mexican hot chocolate. It's praised for its complex and well-balanced composition, showcasing a prominent chocolate note that avoids being overly sweet, instead leaning into spicy and sometimes smoky nuances. Many find it to be a distinctive and artistic fragrance.
Pros
Quality Composition: Many find it a 'gorgeous piece of artistry' and 'blended to perfection', appreciating its depth and balance.
Unique Scent Profile: Reviewers highlight its 'deceptive and unique scent', noting it's unlike other chocolate-based perfumes due to the prominent chili and spice notes.
Versatile Appeal: While often recommended for colder weather, some find it versatile enough for both day and night, and suitable for various occasions from casual to dressy.
Cons
Polarizing Nature: It can be a 'love or hate type of fragrance', with some finding certain notes, like floral or animalic aspects, polarizing on their skin.
Performance Variability: Some reviewers note it can be 'loud at first spray, but tones down to nearly a skin scent quickly', while others experience 'low sillage and projection performance'.
Scent Association: A few reviewers mention it 'smells like grandma' or leans more feminine on their skin, which might not appeal to everyone.
Comparisons
Mexican Hot Chocolate: Frequently compared to a 'sweet and spicy Mexican hot chocolate' or a 'gourmand, Mexican hot chocolate type of scent'.
Opulent Orientals: Some draw parallels to the opulent character of fragrances like Tauer L'Air du Desert Marocain or Annick Goutal Ambre Fétiche.
Vibe & Emotions
Decadent and Baroque: Evokes a feeling of 'decadent, baroque deliciousness' due to its rich and complex spice and chocolate profile.
Warm and Cozy: Often described as a 'warm, sexy scent' or 'incredibly cozy', especially in cooler weather.
Sensual and Mysterious: The interplay of dark chocolate, spices, and sometimes animalic undertones creates a sensual and intriguing aura.
Similar Products
Fragrance marketplace for the scent-obsessed.