FRAGRANCE | Batuk Parfum by Wren Atelier: A deftly executed tribute to our Filipino heritage

It’s been a long while since I last posted about a fragrance, which is a shame, as I have quite a number that I wish to share. I guess I’ve been both busy and lazy but no matter, here’s one now: Batuk Parfum by Wren Atelier. We got this bottle, along with a couple more, late last year, at the time when the house released new (and a few old) fragrances in their redesigned bottles and packaging (which for me more appropriately affords the brand that prestige it so rightfully deserves). My wife and I have both used it a few times before we were overrun with other more recent purchases. But thanks to our annual Buwan ng Wika paandar at the office, I was reminded of this beauty and so, pulled it out of hiding.

Batuk, as the brand writes, is an ode to the ancient tattooing tradition in the Cordillera highlands called batok. Of course everyone’s probably heard of the famous mambabatok Apo Whang-Od, who continues to keep her tribe’s tradition alive. That’s the essence this fragrance aims to capture.

The scent opens with a lovely citrus accord (pomelo, I’ve read) atop an oily coconut and earthy base. There may not be any coconut at all but it’s what comes to mind whenever I smell it. It’s not the creamy, tropical, sunblock kind found in the likes of Nishane Fan Your Flames or in a lighter dose, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Coconut Fizz. Rather, it’s closer to another Wren Atelier creation, 2437 EDP (a then-limited release now reformulated and re-released as Smoky Gourmand), where the coconut milk was already exposed to heat and thereby rendered oily. It also almost feels like there’s pandan in it but my nose may be playing tricks on me.

The citrus is well-controlled, with a teeny tinge of sweetness even, so it never gets annoyingly prickly; just enough to afford some contrasting brightness to the scent’s rather weighty base. And it lingers, weaving through this addictive mix of coconut oil, wood, and earth. Eventually, it settles, but not without infusing itself into the fold and defying expectations by extending its life beyond what would otherwise have been a token top note. There’s also a light, powdery, floral nuance when sniffed up close but gets lost in the blend in no time.

Later, the warmth of the base eases, allowing a cold metallic accord to share the spotlight but careful enough to never let it hog the space either. A mildly dry woodiness also start showing but never fully takes over. As such, the scent remains largely earthy, with specks of citrus, but now a little less warm. Nevertheless, it’s still comforting and addictive. Even after a few hours, all these notes continue to swirl around, with everything still surprisingly intact, the pomelo-forward citrus included, before slowly fading into a sweet-ish, woody and earthy blur. The fragrance’s projection is just about right—noticeable but never overbearing—with pretty good staying power that will net you several hours.

Batuk by Wren Atelier is a winner with its unique scent profile, unisex appeal, and commendable performance. I love how it captures even just a facet of our rich Filipino culture and executes it beautifully. The perfumer, Renato Lopena, should really be proud of this creation. I hope to see—and smell—more creations from him in the near future that pay homage to our Filipino heritage.