Experience by Olivier Aether
Last weekend, at a sensual dinner organised by Hedoné and the fabulous team Time Travellers Lab, I had the privilege to experience something I had never encountered before: a Human Wine Pairing, a long-time fantasy of Olivier Aether finally brought to life.
Olivier is a very passionate wine collector and a true fancier of rare bottles. He also gives sensual sessions combining ropes, tantric practices and kink explorations and guides temples spaces and retreats.
With this concept, he wanted to explore the connection between the power of smell and the taste of wine, questioning how the scent of a human body could be paired with a specific wine, how flesh, skin and aroma could meet the complexity of a Grand Cru. Challenge accepted.
For this experience, Olivier gathered six muses, four female bodies and two male bodies, in a beautiful cellar, along with a refined selection of rare and very specific wines. To begin the pairing, each muse was invited to sit on the table, and Olivier would carefully and slowly smell them in different places of their body, taking time to explore the neck, the skin, the underarms, and more intimate areas, always with a remarkable level of presence and attention. What was fascinating to witness was not only the act itself, but the depth of his process: he would take in the first scent, then the after-smell, allowing it to evolve, reflecting on it, and then move towards the wines that could correspond to this particular body, this particular sensation. Sometimes, the pairing felt immediate and instinctive, almost obvious to him, while in other moments he would return, smell again, compare, taste different wines, and refine his perception until something truly aligned.
Throughout the process, he was also sharing with us his knowledge of wine, speaking about the subtlety of flavours, the structure, the aftertaste, and it created a very rich and layered experience, both intellectual and deeply sensory. I was honestly mesmerised by his dedication and precision, by the way he fully committed to this exploration, treating it almost like an art form. Once each muse had been paired with their wine, and once they felt aligned with the choice, they were invited to sit at the main dinner table where around fifty guests would later be able to approach them, smell them, and then taste the corresponding wine.
A clear and respectful consent system was introduced, allowing each muse to decide their level of interaction. They could cross their arms to indicate they did not wish to be approached, or leave them open if they were available for the experience, and they could also define which parts of their body were accessible. This created a space that felt both free and safe, where intimacy could unfold without pressure.
Are you a sensual
professional?
Join hundreds of BDSM practitioners, content creators, erotic writers, artists, coaches, masseurs, muses and more on Sensuali
One detail that particularly touched me was that Olivier’s partner, who is eight months pregnant, was also one of the muses, paired with a beautiful and very special Grand Cru Bourgogne, which added another layer of depth and symbolism to the experience.
“Even if the wines are outstanding, no wine could ever be as wonderful as a human. Guests are first invited to ask for permission to smell the person, and only then to discover the wine that accompanies them” shares Olivier.
After the pairing, guests were invited approach the muses, smell them, and then taste the wine that had been selected for their body, exploring two, three, sometimes four muses for the most curious and sensory-driven participants. What I found truly fascinating is how smelling someone is, in essence, not sexual, and yet incredibly intimate. It bypasses the mind and connects directly to something very primal, something instinctual that guides attraction in a way we often underestimate. We may think we are drawn to someone through conversation or personality, but scent has its own language, one that is immediate and deeply embodied.
I loved observing the contrast between this raw, almost animal way of perceiving another human through smell, and the refinement of tasting an exquisite wine that echoes that experience. It creates a bridge between instinct and sophistication, between the body and culture, between something ancient and something highly curated. The concept is playful, surprising, and at the same time deeply connecting. It invites people to step out of their comfort zone, to trust their senses, and to discover a different way of relating to others, while also indulging in a beautifully crafted wine tasting experience.
I left feeling inspired and touched by what I had witnessed, and very proud of Olivier for bringing this unique concept into the world. I am already curious to see how it will evolve and to experience it again in another setting!
WATCH A SHORT VIDEO ON OUR IG OF THE EVENT
Pauline Marie-Antoinette
Pauline is a poetry writer, performer, experience creator, and intimacy and kinks workshop facilitator. She believes in the power of arts and creativity to be profound vehicles for change and loves to empower people to free their inner artist and turn sensuality into a real art form. Her solo-show, "An Erotic Poetry Odyssey" is an invitation to deepen intimacy, explore conscious kinks while challenging societal taboos. Pauline designs experiences for couples, retreats and workshops in Berlin and around the world!