While studying traditional perfume manufacturing in Grasse, France, we were introduced to the building blocks used to create fragrances by combining raw materials in "accords".

An accord is a balanced blend of two or three ingredients that become a new, more complex odor statement. Mate and jasmin, when combined, became an intense emotion – particularly when the jasmin was the much more animalic Jasmin Sambac with its indolic heart.

Starting with this 'accord', the fragrance grew in depth with the addition of narcissus and other gems.

Cultus Artem perfumes contain only fragrance oils, distilled water and perfumery alcohol.

Ilex Ingredient List

• Paraguayan Petitgrain
• Italian Bergamot
• Neroli of Bitter Orange Trees
• Schinus Molle of Ecuador and Peru
• South American Mate Leaf
• Jasmine Sambac
• French Narcissus
• Indian Sandalwood

Our fragrances are free of parabens, organosulfates, phthalates, color additives, synthetic dyes, ethanolamine aka ETA/MEA, diethanolamine aka DEA, triethanolamine aka TEA, and toluene. No decolorizing of the ingredients has occurred.

All of our fragrance formulas are vetted by an in-house chemist and further certified by an independent toxicologist. They conform to the most stringent international regulator compliance and safety standards as defined by EU (European Union) and IFRA (International Fragrance Association) regulators.

Ilex is a vegan fragrance. Our fragrances are cruelty-free.