Everest | Survive

The wind was an unforgiving howl that seemed to tear at him, as if the mountain itself was trying to strip him bare. Snow and ice blurred his vision, numbing his face despite the layers he wore. Every step felt heavy, an aching grind as he forced himself upward, alone in the vast, empty silence of Everest.

He had never known solitude like this. Even surrounded by others, climbing was a lonely endeavour. But now, without him by his side, it felt like the mountain was an abyss, swallowing every echo, every memory.

They had started together, bonded by shared determination and a silent agreement that no matter what, they would reach the top. But Everest was a brutal, unfeeling giant. The thin line between challenge and death blurred quickly here. One mistake, one miscalculated move, and he had fallen. He could still see it if he closed his eyes—the way his friend had disappeared into the ice and fog, a final shout lost in the freezing wind.

Now, every breath was a struggle. The air up here was thin, a cruel thief stealing his strength, his warmth, his spirit. His lungs burned, his muscles ached, and the cold seemed to seep into his bones, yet he forced himself onward. He couldn’t explain why; there was no one waiting at the summit, no grand reward waiting for him there. But he couldn’t go back. Not with his friend somewhere below, swallowed by the mountain, his lifeline severed.

Top notes

Ice, mint, black pepper, cypress

Middle notes

patchouli, pine, minerals, rock rose, leather

Base notes

Dark amber, myrrh, charred wood, black musk