Make-up Art Cosmetics (MAC) is about a collective spirit of spirited individuals. A group of make-up artists who enjoy the art of transformation and celebrate self-expression. This global creative consciousness is MAC. In November 1999 three essences of MAC will be introduced: Hyper Souk, Synthetic Nirvana and Asphalt Flower. These are the MAC expression of fragrance, three modern primal elixirs, distillates of global ingredients infused in oil with 50% fragrance to create a highly concentrated, highly personal experience. The essences of MAC embody the spirit of MAC and are encased in a twenty first-century amulet, a vessel designed for a personal access to the future.

In a world that is technologically evolving at warp speed, a human paradigm is occurring. There is a need to move fast across new frontiers and simultaneously stay grounded to the earth and soul. This fusing of modern and primal ideas will define the future. MAC has taken the most primal sense, smell, to appeal to the soul and fused aroma with a modern interpretation of the talismanic amulet.

THE ESSENCES
MAC worked with the most creative noses to craft this expressive project.
HYPER SOUK – the balmy ambiance of a room filled with mouthwatering aroma of fruit compote cooked with spicy touches of cinnamon and bay rum. A delicious fruit medley, rich in chimeric quinces and plums, is wrapped by the fumes of Armenian paper, an old fashioned air purifier from the Middle East, revealing the images of red roses, wild vanilla pods, cistus resin from Malta and teardrops of styrax and fossil amber.
SYNTHETIC NIRVANA – The souls of red poppies long dead, mixed into an obscure philter of unknown aphrodisiacs. The strangely attractive fragrance of cannabis flower joins the crispness of an herbal harmony of clary sage, brown oregano and Spanish thyme. Padook wood, eaglewood an Sumatran patchouli dive inside the fluid sensuality of Arabian myrrh and sweet incense before drowning into oblivion.
ASPHALT FLOWER – A retro-type harmony of dark blossoms perversely empowered by dense woody notes and sultry fruit accents. It’s protective petals bloom into a cloud of black violets, tinted by powdery orris from Florence and Australian boronia. The ever-pulsating floral heart reveals the headiness of queen-of-the-night and night blooming jasmine. Deep purple lilacs rhythmically embrace deep vetivert nuances, while coy raspberry taints a dark surface of wengue wood from Africa, falling into purple perdition.

These quintessentials have a sensual application. It is not about spraying, it is about a personal connection to skin and soul. The essences endure because of the high concentration of oil and absence of alcohol and can be used beyond the body.

THE AMULET
The MAC amulet continues the tradition of ancient charms worn close to the heart to bring good luck and to attract love to the wearer and expands the concept into a modern era.

Like a piece of amber, which traps a tiny precious object in a jewel-like hard protective coating, this design is based around a tiny vial of perfume which is cocooned in a rubber pouch. This cast latex tube has the feel of skin. It is at the heart of a shiny metal protective plate finished in iridescent purple or gray or amber.

The design draws its inspiration from the modern "all access pass". It is a spiritual key to new sensual levels of being. It can be wound around the wrist, worn around the neck, concealed in a pocket or like a little totem; it can be placed on a shelf in the bathroom.