- Anna Barkne Perfumer:
Anna Barkne is a remarkable figure in the world of perfumery. She is one of the co - founders of Stora Skuggan, a brand that has made a name for itself in the niche fragrance market.
Stora Skuggan, which means “the big shadow” in Swedish, was established by a group of five multidisciplinary artists, including Anna, who met while studying at Stockholm’s Beckmans College of Design in 2005. After years of learning, experimenting, and embarking on an olfactive exploration journey, they officially launched the brand in 2015 with their first fragrance, fantôme de maules.
Anna Barkne has crafted some of the brand's most notable scents. One such creation is Hexensalbe. This eau de parfum is a dark floral fragrance with green, spicy undertones, deeply rooted in the botanical world of witchcraft. Hexensalbe, also known as the witches’ “flying ointment,” was a hallucinogenic salve used in witchcraft during the Middle Ages. Composed by Anna, the top notes of this fragrance feature wormwood and salty liquorice, the heart notes include tuberose, rosemary, angelica, and belladonna, and the base notes consist of black hemlock, lichen, and patchouli. It recreates the potent elixir of the witchcraft legend in olfactory form, offering a spooky and sensual exploration of nature and femininity.
In her work, Anna combines her creativity with a deep understanding of scents, often drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources, from historical and mythological concepts to the natural world. Her perfumes are not just about creating pleasant smells but also about telling stories and evoking emotions. Each fragrance she creates is a carefully - crafted blend, where every note is chosen to contribute to the overall narrative and sensory experience. Anna Barkne's contributions to the world of perfumery have not only added unique scents to the market but have also expanded the boundaries of what a fragrance can represent.
