Rafi
For our third conversation we sat with Rafi, a storyteller from Tangerang who describes himself as a constant learner, kept on his toes by a stubborn curiosity about life’s moments, other people’s perspectives, and inner faith. He came to fragrance late and almost by accident, chasing a single question about why a bottle can cost anywhere from a lunch to a year’s salary, and followed it into the history and the craft of the art. We spoke about jasmine and his mother’s holy days, the chypres he keeps returning to, and why there is no such thing as good taste, only yours.
I will not bore you with the whole backstory, but here is a glimpse. I have always lived as a constant learner, keeping myself on my toes by staying inquisitive about many things: life’s moments, people’s perspectives, inner faith, you name it. Cerca trova. Seek, and you shall find.
Your relationship with fragrance
Fragrance was never part of my family’s story. Back then I saw it simply as a product, and that was it. No art, no story, no craftsmanship.
Around the middle of 2024, what started as a simple act of self-reward led me to dive deeper into perfumery. The question that sparked it all was, why can a bottle of perfume cost anywhere from the price of someone’s lunch to someone’s yearly salary? That curiosity led me through several books, from the history of the art to the fragrances that shaped the industry to how raw materials have changed over time. It gave me a deeper understanding of what seems like nothing more than scented water. In reality it is an intricate universe, meticulously composed to tell a story.
Scented water, until you learn it is an intricate universe composed to tell a story.
A scent that takes you somewhere
Jasmine. It instantly brings me back to my mother. Growing up in a Javanese household, jasmine was always part of her traditions. On holy days she would place fresh jasmine petals around our living room and let the scent fill the house for days. I loved experiencing it through every stage, from freshly picked to gently withered.
What you’re wearing now
I rotate constantly, but one thing stays certain: there is almost always a chypre in the mix. I gravitate to the genre for its balanced structure, bright yet dark. On any given day you might catch me wearing Barenia by Hermès, Dia Man by Amouage, or Chypre Dragunov by HoM Haute.
A daily ritual
Prayers, coffee, music, and a good spray of the fragrance of the day on the back of my hand, a companion for whatever the day brings.
On good taste
There is no such thing as good taste, only your taste. Taste is a reflection of who you are: your experiences, your values, and the stories you have lived. The beauty lies not in seeking universal approval, but in discovering what genuinely resonates with you.
One belief you would defend
A brilliant mind is humanity’s greatest tool. Purpose determines whether it creates or destroys.
Cerca trova. Seek, and you shall find.