A sensory juxtaposition
A new title joins Aesop’s range of body cleansers. To uninitiated noses, its spicy, woody scent will be unexpected, while to others there will be a sense of the familiar. Both impressions are true, for Antithesis Intense Body Cleanser is a reinterpretation of Coriander Seed Body Cleanser, a long-standing formulation with a devoted following, but perhaps hidden in the shadows. Now, with its freshly hewn name, discerning bathers will be able to experience this intensely aromatic body wash in a new light.
Composed of contradictions
As its recast moniker now makes clear, Antithesis Intense Body Cleanser’s aromatic profile is one of contrasts: warm but cool; bold yet layered. This pleasurably paradoxical impression is shaped by the formulation’s unorthodox blend of essential oils, led by crushed Coriander Seed and Black Pepper. The effect on the senses is distinctly enlivening.
Stirring yet serene
Though aromatically impactful, Antithesis Intense Body Cleanser’s clear, low-foaming gel formulation is carefully balanced to remove surface impurities without stripping the skin. Rather, its suite of mild yet effective ingredients simply leave the body feeling refreshed and the spirit enlivened. And like all Aesop body washes, it is suitable for daily use and a wide range of skin types.
A sculptural story
The formulation’s sensory contrasts are evoked in an accompanying film, which focuses on the medium of sculpture— an art form that balances delicacy and strength. An artist’s hand rhythmically chisels away at cold, pale stone, slowly revealing the form of a human torso, which is juxtaposed against the skin of the artist’s model: soft and warm.
At select Aesop stores, similarly sculptural forms will be exhibited, surrounded by an abundance of black peppercorns and coriander seeds. In all these scenes, the intent is to explore qualities shared by both sculpture and Antithesis Intense Body Cleanser: light and shadow, boldness and complexity, strength and delicacy.
RRP:
180 mL HKD / MOP 280; 500 mL HKD / MOP 400
'Our ideals, like pictures, are made from lights and shadows.’ Joseph Joubert
