Purple Heart V 5
Eau de Parfum
Map of the Heart
Acquired
Map of the Heart
Concept-driven Australian niche house with anatomical heart bottles and sandalwood-rich unisex perfumes.
About Map of the Heart
Map of the Heart is an Australian fragrance brand created by writer and creative director Sarah Blair and filmmaker Jeffrey Darling. The project emerged from their prior collaborations in film, design, and storytelling, and expanded into perfume as another medium for narrative. Their fragrances are produced in France while the brand emphasizes its Australian roots, frequently highlighting Australian sandalwood as a recurring material. The line debuted in 2014, and sources such as Fragrantica and The Perfume Society list Jacques Huclier, Amelie Jacquin, and Nisrine Bouazzaoui Grillié among the perfumers behind the compositions.
The most immediately recognizable element of Map of the Heart is its bottle design: sculptural flacons shaped like anatomical human hearts, created by noted bottle designer Pierre Dinand. The perfumes are structured as a series of numbered “Heart” chapters (Clear Heart v.1, Gold Heart v.4, Purple Heart v.5, Pink Heart v.6, Yellow Heart, etc.), each intended to explore a different emotional or thematic register such as freedom, darkness, passion, peace, valour, ecstasy, and love. The Perfume Society describes the co-founders’ view of the heart as “everything pure, good and evil... it aches, it desires, it is who we are,” which underpins the conceptual framing of the collection.
Scent-wise, Map of the Heart often combines airy freshness and salty, coastal facets with spices, woods, and a strong sandalwood backbone. Clear Heart v.1 is described by The Perfume Society as an ultra-transparent, green, and watery fragrance with blackcurrant, Tunisian neroli, peony, and suede-like orris, while Gold Heart v.4 adds a milky saffron accord, pink pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, rose, amber, and musk over sandalwood. Across the range, there is a consistent unisex positioning and a focus on wearable yet idea-driven compositions. The brand is frequently stocked and discussed by niche-focused retailers and publications, which position it firmly within the niche/artisanal segment rather than mainstream designer perfumery.
At a Glance
The Brand
Founded
2014
Founder
Sarah Blair and Jeffrey Darling
Country
Australia
Category
Niche
Scent Personality
Worth It?
Scent DNA
Woody
Spicy
Aromatic
Aquatic
Gourmand
- Map of the Heart fragrances are typically built around a prominent sandalwood theme, often specifically referencing Australian sandalwood, which gives many of the scents a grainy, creamy woodiness
- The compositions tend to be concept-heavy, translating emotions or abstract ideas into unusual note pairings, yet they are still structured for everyday wear
- The striking anatomical heart bottles and numbered Heart chapters make the line instantly identifiable on a shelf
Top Notes
Base Notes
Typical Performance
Longevity
Long
Projection
Moderate
Positioning
A niche, luxury house known for woody compositions.
How It Compares
- → Art-driven concept similar to État Libre d'Orange
- → Bottle and storytelling boldness akin to Amouage
- → Use of sandalwood and woods reminiscent of Le Labo
- → Less sweet and more conceptual than Mancera
- → Positioned more niche than Dior
Who It's For
Best For
- Niche collectors who value concept and design
- Unisex everyday wear with a twist
- Cool to mild weather where woods and spices shine
- Fragrance layering and wardrobe building
- Gift-giving where visual impact matters
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Highly distinctive bottle design and branding
- Cohesive sandalwood-forward DNA across the range
- Unisex compositions with creative note combinations
- Clear storytelling around each fragrance concept
Weaknesses
- Distribution is limited outside niche retailers and online
- Pricing is relatively high compared with more mainstream options
- Conceptual positioning may feel too cerebral for casual buyers
- Not ideal if you dislike sandalwood-centric scents
Brand Evolution
The brand started by establishing a tight core collection built around the heart motif and Australian identity, with early releases like Clear Heart v.1 and Gold Heart v.4 setting the sandalwood-centric template. Over time it expanded the Heart series into additional chapters, adding more complex spices, gourmand nuances, and darker tonalities while maintaining a shared wood base. Later entries explore bolder structures and less conventional note pairings, but they continue to prioritize wearability and a clearly articulated emotional or narrative hook. The visual language and bottle design have remained consistent, giving the brand a strong, unified identity even as individual scents diversify.
Quick Verdict
Map of the Heart is for people who care as much about concept and design as they do about smell. If you enjoy sandalwood-driven, unisex niche perfumery with a strong visual and narrative angle, this line is worth seeking out despite its limited availability and premium pricing.
Perfumers
Map of the Heart Perfumes