Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ Inspires Limited-Edition Fragrance Release “Eau de Macabre”

What does a vampire smell like?

That’s the question scent expert Douglas Little attempted to answer as the perfumer tackled a spooky assignment in crafting a fragrance inspired by Robert Eggers‘ upcoming film Nosferatu from Focus Features for his brand Heretic Parfum. To find an answer, Little cut through the fog and darkness by watching Eggers’ film and diving deep into historical research.

He followed his nose all the way here: the Heretic Parfum offering, dubbed “Eau de Macabre,” is described as “opening with top notes of lilac and ambrette seed that fall into a heart chord of violet, orris root and petrichor. The mysterious dry-down is woven around vegan ambergris and Oud absolute,” per the brand.

It’s meant to be a scent as atmospheric as the film, so much so that it could transport the wearer into the shadows occupied by Count Orlok himself. Each 30mL bottle is engraved with Count Orlok’s sigil and comes in a black coffer with printed fragrance notes and inspiration. Heretic’s Nosferatu scent is available for purchase on the brand’s website beginning Oct. 31.

Little launched Heretic Parfum in 2016. The brand produces 100 percent natural, artisanal fragrances “based on the mysterious, sensual and feral aspects of nature,” all handcrafted in a Los Angeles studio. The non-gendered collection is available at GOOP, Credo Beauty, Nordstrom, Maxfield LA and other high-end retailers.

As for Eggers’ creation, Nosferatu hits theaters on Christmas day. It’s described as a “gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her causing untold horror in its wake.” Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney and Willem Dafoe star in the Focus release.