Was by Neandertal is a 2025 release from house founder Kentaro Yamada, utilizing Artificial Intelligence and the perfumer team of Isaac Sinclair, Fanny Grau and Nicolaj Koralewicz. Neandertal explores fundamental existential questions like, 'Where do we come from?" and 'Where are we going?' by attempting to understand the human experience from outside ourselves through perfumery and olfactory experience. Was is a Spicy Woody scent with citrus, orris, violet, powdery, woody, musky, floral, earthy, and fresh spicy accords.
From the brand:
"Neandertal was™ is the richer, deeper scent in the is™ and was™ duo—one crafted by master perfumers, the other generated by cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
was™ develops on the skin with complexity: it opens with warm, woody and spicy notes, then unfolds into an unexpected softness of iris. This intricacy is driven by a novel molecule, Diviniris, a new creation in perfumery that uniquely juxtaposes the familiar textures of iris and wood. The scent settles into a smooth blend of amber and clove, lifted by the bitter freshness of geranium and yerba mate.
Neandertal created this compelling and unique fragrance duo to complement our conceptual line—one that poses fundamental questions, with a particular focus on the future of our species and our evolving relationship with synthetic life."