The Meleg Letter — June 2026

MELEG

From the Garden Lab

Orris Butter: The Ingredient More Precious Than Gold

Orris butter. If you've never heard of it, you are not alone — and yet, it is one of the most captivating materials in the history of perfumery. Derived from the dried root of the Iris florentina, it takes three years for the root to mature and another three years of aging before the butter can be extracted.

The result? A material that is powdery, violet-like, buttery, green, and strangely alive. Gram for gram, it costs more than gold — and it is the heart of three of my most beloved creations: Iris de Glace, Oshiroi, and Ousha & The Moon.

It was Satori-san, a master perfumer in Tokyo, who first introduced me to its magic. I have never recovered. Nor have I wanted to.

World of Meleg

A Collaboration in Kyoto: The Story of Oshiroi

Born from a collaboration with the Umeno Geisha Tea House of Kamishichiken — Kyoto's oldest geisha district — Oshiroi is the world's first authentic geisha perfume available to the public. Limited to 500 pieces worldwide. Each signed by Matthew Meleg, Yuko Nakaji, and Umemai-chan, Maiko of the Umeno House. View Oshiroi →

Craft & Heritage

Why Every Perfume Arrives in a Wooden Box

The apple bin was the symbol of my childhood — of family, of earth, of honest work. Every Meleg perfume is secured in a handcrafted wooden box that honours that memory, and the farmers and artisans of all nations whose hands make these raw materials possible.