IFF · Round 2 · Shinichiro Oba
VENUMENT × IFF · New debrief · July 2026

Round 2 Debrief
Shinichiro Oba

A new debrief, separate from Round 1. AIR is locked (good to go); this debrief adds a Round 2 new-interpretation ask on READ.

Round
Round 2 — additional interpretations
From
VENUMENT / Kelvin
To
Mathieu Vannier · IFF
Date
July 2026
New debrief · Round 2

This is a new debrief, separate from Round 1.

We received the second-round samples based on the previous debrief. Thank you.

The purpose of this document is not to re-open the Round 1 debrief on the AIR sample in hand — that formulation is locked, good to go.

The purpose of this document is to register a new interpretation ask on READ. In Round 1 this additional interpretation ask did not register clearly on the IFF side, so we are re-issuing it here as a standalone Round 2 debrief with the original READ scent brief attached.

Why we are asking for new samples before the 23rd

We are running out of time. To keep the launch order on track we need to place the first launch order by the end of July, which means the new interpretation samples need to be in motion in parallel with the Round 1 detailed feedback rather than after it.

United Arrows meeting23 July 2026
First launch orderEnd of July 2026
Launch day30 September 2026 (JST)
Shinichiro Oba
Round 1: AIR  ·  Round 2 new interpretation: READ
AIR (locked)
READ (new interpretation)
Round 1 · AIR — locked, good to go
AIR formulation is approved. No further reformulation required.

Please carry the current AIR formulation into the launch build as-is. We will confirm ordering quantities in the week following the United Arrows meeting on 23 July.

Round 2 · New interpretation ask
READ — first interpretation and samples, please.

Given AIR is locked, we would like to bring Shinichiro-san onto READ for a first interpretation and sample round. READ is the most structural scent in the line; having a first take from Shinichiro-san before the 23rd will help us close on direction quickly.

Full creative freedom on execution; the original brief below is the reference we shared at the very start of the project.

Original scent brief · reference for this ask
READ
A defined line — dry, clear, intentional.

A quiet, focused space — wood, paper, and air. Not naturalistic, not aromatic, but structured and intentional. Something you can follow with the eye — a line, a surface, a clearly defined form. This is the most legible scent in the line.

A single line of kuromoji ink on cedar paper.

The smell of a small wooden architect's office in the early morning — paper, fresh-cut cedar, a clean desk.

Temperature cool–dry  ·  Pitch mid, very stable  ·  Color cedar-brown, ink-black  ·  Texture smooth-dry paper, no fuzz  ·  Weight medium, grounded  ·  Shape a vertical line — readable, no diffuse edges

  • 1 · Top — controlled green startBlack pepper (clean, dry) · bergamot (trace) · cardamom (very subtle). Restrained, structured opening; not fresh, not aromatic; slightly sharp but controlled.
  • 2 · Heart — structured coreKuromoji (main axis) · vetiver (clean, dry, grounding) · cedarwood (linear, dry) · galbanum (reduced, supporting). Clear woody axis with kuromoji at center; linear and readable, not layered or dense.
  • 3 · TextureIso E Super (controlled) · ambroxan (low, supportive) · mineral nuance · ink accord (trace). Air + diffusion + subtle abstraction; creates space around the structure; paper / ink / dry air.
  • 4 · Base — dry structural finishVetiver (extended) · cedarwood (extended) · patchouli (clean, controlled) · soft musk (minimal). Stable, grounded base; dry, quiet, present; no sweetness, no warmth, no softness.
  • Cumin
  • Nioikobushi
  • Duplicate green layers
  • Excess aromatic notes
  • Aromatic / herbal tone
  • Over-layered green density
  • Warm spice
  • Creamy softness
  • Overly blended / rounded composition

Spray → controlled pepper-green → defined woody line → paper / ink → dry air

Thank you for the second round. AIR is ready to go, and the READ interpretation samples will let us keep the end-of-July order on track.

Best,
Kelvin

Seonjoon Lee, Cofounder & CEO · VENUMENT
Outliers & Co · kelvin@venu-ment.com