Art, and by extension the artists who have participated in Awasi’s ongoing Artist Immersion program, is most commonly associated with the visual; sketches, oil and water-colours, collage, sculpture and photography are all mediums through which our resident artists have explored the unique landscapes and textures of the Atacama desert and the forests of Iguazu.

It was therefore with much excitement that Awasi invited Nuria du Chêne de Vère, a 31-year-old perfumer from Milan, to take part in the Awasi Artist Immersion, staying at our boutique, Relais & Chateaux Awasi lodges in both Iguazú and Atacama; the first artist to focus on the smells of these iconic landscapes in addition to the sights, sounds and textures.

Following her time at both Awasi Iguazu and Atacama, Nuria created two perfumes inspired by olfactory memories of her stays.

Jasmine and orange blossom

Scent has always been important to Nuria, and particular fragrances evoke long-held memories of special moments of her childhood.

Jasmine and orange blossom are two of Nuria’s favourite aromas, reminding her of her home in Spain, whilst the smell of roses immediately takes her back to her grandmother’s Italian garden.

With smell such a strong sense, it was inevitable that Nuria would follow her nose when embarking on a career; she trained at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in France, one the world’s most prestigious centres, located in the birthplace of perfume.

Following her studies, she founded her own company Nur, which “started from a personal need” to inhabit the world of high-end perfumery.

Wisteria and anise

“The smell of the forest: the damp earth of the woods, the trees, honey, cork, wisteria, and anise.” Just some individual smells that are particularly evocative for Nuria; the rich essences of the natural landscape have always held a special place for Nuria.

Some scents in turn are inescapable. “I start by saying, ‘no, I won’t add them,” explains Nuria, “but in the end iris and sandalwood always find their way in”, she goes on.

The water and vegetation dominates the landscape around Awasi Iguazú, built as it is in the luscious Atlantic Rainforest on the banks of the Iguazu River. Iguazu Falls itself is only minutes away; huge volumes of water tumbling over natural cliffs creating clouds of spray and mist that dampen everything in reach. Ideal conditions for someone inspired by the humid scents of wet earth and rich vegetation.

Nuria was especially enthused by the sweet and special fragrance of the orchids and the little white flowers of the jeyjá trees near the Falls; just some of the bounty that grows in this abundant part of the world.

Dry wood of the algarrobo tree

The Atacama is a completely different olfactory world, its smells shaped by the fact that it is one of the driest places on Earth.

“The very dry wood of the algarrobo tree; the aromatic leaves of rica rica, also very dry” explains Nura. “The minerals; the salt of the desert; and the smoke of the incense that is used in Indigenous rituals”; all of these scents made a deep impression on Nuria, a markedly different bouquet of aromas from the humid smells of the Iguazu forests.

Mate and oranges

Despite the polarity of the two places, Nuria drank mate in both. They share a tropical note: oranges. While creating her two perfumes she was inspired by the intense, vibrant green of the Iguazu forest, and the vast, lunar landscapes of Atacama. The perfumes she created evoke both vitality and introspection as a means of capturing her experience in these wildly differing locations.

Wet earth and rica rica leaves

“The landscapes and natural characteristics of Iguazú and Atacama are opposite, but both places have a culture of people who are welcoming and passionate” Nuria notes.

She was exhilarated by the new materials with which she could create her perfumes. “I loved discovering new smells and plants. Even the raw products, colours, and lights were different and beautiful, because they allow me to experience completely new things.”

“My journey with Awasi, both in Iguazú and Atacama, was even more special, because every excursion, meal, or tasting, was tailored completely to me from every perspective, ensuring that each day was a total immersion in these wonderful places.”

Nuria was a guest at both Awasi Iguazú, in Northern Argentina, and Awasi Atacama in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.